Which federal law governs the confidentiality of student education records?

• A. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
• B. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
• C. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
• D. Title IX

Answer: (C)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is the federal law that governs the confidentiality of student education records. FERPA ensures that parents and eligible students have the right to access their educational records and protects these records from disclosure without consent. This law is designed to maintain the privacy of student information and allows students to have control over who can access their educational documents.

Under FERPA, schools are required to provide students with written notification of their privacy rights and establish guidelines for how student records are handled. This includes stipulations about the release of information and the rights of students to amend incorrect records.

The other laws mentioned, while important, focus on different areas. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act relates specifically to the education of students with disabilities, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act pertains to the privacy of health information, not specifically education records. Title IX focuses on preventing sex-based discrimination in educational activity and does not govern the specifics of student education record confidentiality.