What does FERPA primarily protect in schools?

• A. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act protects student records and privacy; ensure only authorized individuals access records and obtain consent for disclosures.
• B. It regulates school lunch programs
• C. It governs athletic eligibility
• D. It sets curriculum standards

Answer: (A)

FERPA protects the privacy and control of student education records. It gives parents and eligible students the right to access those records, request amendments, and restrict who can see them, with disclosures generally needing consent or meeting specific exceptions. The described focus on safeguarding student records and privacy, plus limiting access to authorized people and requiring consent for disclosures, is exactly what FERPA does. The other options describe functions outside FERPA’s scope—lunch programs, athletic eligibility, and curriculum standards—handled by different laws and policies.