Which of the following qualifies as educational records under FERPA?

A student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) qualifies as an educational record under FERPA because it is a formally created and maintained document that is directly related to a student and their educational process. The IEP outlines the specific educational goals and required services for students with disabilities, reflecting their academic progress and needs.

FERPA defines educational records as records that are directly related to a student and maintained by an educational institution or a party acting on its behalf. Since the IEP is developed in conjunction with school personnel, parents, and specialists, it contains detailed information about the student’s educational achievements and plans, thus categorizing it clearly as an educational record protected under FERPA guidelines.

The other options do not meet the criteria set by FERPA for educational records. Personal notes from a teacher are considered private and not maintained as part of the student's official record. Letters of recommendation may not be directly tied to the educational record and typically exist outside the formal academic documentation. School research data may not pertain directly to an individual student and is generally not considered educational records under FERPA unless it contains personally identifiable information about a student.