Which of the following is a primary objective of FERPA?

The primary objective of FERPA, or the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, is to protect the privacy of student education records. This federal law was enacted in 1974 to give parents and eligible students (students who are 18 years or older or who attend a postsecondary institution) certain rights regarding their education records. It allows them to control access to their records and sets guidelines for the appropriate use and disclosure of those records by educational institutions.

Under FERPA, educational institutions must ensure that student information is kept confidential and can only share it under specific conditions, such as obtaining consent from the student or if the information falls under certain exceptions, like health or safety emergencies. The law emphasizes the importance of student privacy and restricts the sharing of personal information without adequate consent.

This focus on privacy distinguishes FERPA from the other options listed, which relate to academic performance, funding issues, or school construction and are not the main purpose of this legislation.