Which act is designed to protect the privacy of student education records and restrict sharing of that information?

• A. FERPA
• B. COPPA
• C. CAN-SPAM Act
• D. FACTA

Answer: (A)

FERPA protects the privacy of student education records by restricting how that information can be shared and who can access it. It gives students (or their parents) the right to inspect and request amendments to their records, and it generally requires written consent before schools disclose most information to others. The law applies to educational institutions that receive federal funds and defines who counts as a school official with a legitimate educational interest who can access records without consent. It also allows schools to share some information (like directory details) unless the family opts out.

Other acts address privacy in different areas, not specifically the privacy of education records: COPPA governs data collection from children online, CAN-SPAM controls commercial emails, and FACTA deals with credit reporting and identity theft. FERPA is the one that directly targets protecting student education records and limiting their disclosure.