Which law protects the privacy of students' educational records?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) specifically protects the privacy of students' educational records. Enacted in 1974, FERPA gives parents the right to access their children's educational records and protects these records from disclosure without consent. This means that schools must obtain written permission from parents or eligible students before releasing any information from a student's education record, thereby ensuring that students' sensitive information remains private.

Unlike FERPA, HIPAA primarily governs the privacy and security of medical records for healthcare providers. While there are certain stipulations where HIPAA might interact with education records—especially in cases where health services are provided within educational institutions—FERPA is the primary law that directly addresses the privacy and management of educational records. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the specific role of FERPA in safeguarding student information.