FERPA complaints push further changes to the law

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) aims to ensure the overall security of students’ records concerning academics. This law applies to all students who attend schools that receive federal funds under the US Department of Education. Recently, FERPA’s legislation has come into question concerning the privacy of students’ academic records. 

Under FERPA’s law, schools cannot provide private knowledge about a student to just anyone without permission or adequate reasoning. 

“We can’t share information with just anyone,” Associate Principal Brady Thornton said. “We have certain obligations as to what we can share with someone such as address, schedule, and test scores.”  

Recently, a variety of standardized test scores, including AP and ACT, have been published for public viewing. These violations of the law have come to light, leaving some students feeling exposed. 

“FERPA is about privacy,” HC Senior Joshua Pe said, “and I don’t want details of my life being spread around. Being exposed, even if it is for something good, is still an invasion of privacy.” 

Although it is the students’ scores that are mainly being secured by the law, parents have the overall say in what will be published for anyone to see. 

“FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records.” (according to www2.ed.gov), “These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level.” 

This recent violation has raised questions concerning the reliability and overall sanction of FERPA. 

“If it’s not necessary,” Pe said, “names shouldn’t be released, regardless of the means.” 

Students whose ACT and AP scores were released without their permission believe that improvements could be added to the law and the way students are informed. 

“It would be beneficial to actually talk about [FERPA],” Pe said, “in homeroom during the first week of school.” 

FERPA laws continue to be a discussion. Due to the current complaints, change in policy is expected because of the discretion of students’ confidential information. Students who are concerned with their school records being shared should take extra precaution, informing themselves with all factors of the law.