According to FERPA, which action would violate a student's privacy rights when a teacher documents observations for personal use?

According to FERPA, which action would violate a student's privacy rights when a teacher documents observations for personal use?

• A. Discussing notes with the principal for instructional guidance
• B. Sharing notes with a parent volunteer assisting with the student
• C. Keeping a copy of the notes in a secured classroom file
• D. Reviewing observations with the student's parents

Answer: (B)

The action that would violate a student's privacy rights, according to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), is sharing notes with a parent volunteer assisting with the student. FERPA is designed to protect the privacy of student education records and ensures that personally identifiable information cannot be disclosed without consent. When a teacher creates notes or observations for personal use, those notes are considered an education record if they contain personally identifiable information. Sharing this information with an unauthorized individual, such as a parent volunteer who does not have a legitimate educational interest in the information, breaches the student's right to privacy as granted by FERPA. It's crucial to recognize that although volunteers may be assisting with the student, they do not have the same rights to access educational records as school staff who are directly involved in the student's education. In contrast, discussing notes with the principal for instructional guidance, keeping the notes in a secured file, and reviewing observations with the student’s parents typically align with the requirements of FERPA as these actions involve relevant educational personnel or stakeholders who are entitled to access such information for student welfare and educational purposes.

The action that would violate a student's privacy rights, according to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), is sharing notes with a parent volunteer assisting with the student. FERPA is designed to protect the privacy of student education records and ensures that personally identifiable information cannot be disclosed without consent.

When a teacher creates notes or observations for personal use, those notes are considered an education record if they contain personally identifiable information. Sharing this information with an unauthorized individual, such as a parent volunteer who does not have a legitimate educational interest in the information, breaches the student's right to privacy as granted by FERPA. It's crucial to recognize that although volunteers may be assisting with the student, they do not have the same rights to access educational records as school staff who are directly involved in the student's education.

In contrast, discussing notes with the principal for instructional guidance, keeping the notes in a secured file, and reviewing observations with the student’s parents typically align with the requirements of FERPA as these actions involve relevant educational personnel or stakeholders who are entitled to access such information for student welfare and educational purposes.