FERPA
FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA gives parents and eligible students (those who are 18 years of age or older or who attend a postsecondary institution) certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:
1. The right to inspect and review their education records maintained by the school.
2. The right to request that a school correct records that they believe to be inaccurate or misleading.
3. The right to control the disclosure of their education records, except in certain limited circumstances (such as when the school is required to release the information under a court order or in an emergency).
FERPA also requires schools to obtain written consent from a parent or eligible student before disclosing personally identifiable information from education records, except in certain limited circumstances.
The goal of FERPA is to protect the privacy of student education records and to give parents and eligible students control over who has access to their records. This helps to ensure that students' personal information is not shared without their permission and that their educational records are accurate and up-to-date.
You can read more about FERPA by clicking below:
https://www.lehman.edu/registrar/ferpa.php
FERPA Forms click here.
HIPAA
FERPA and HIPAA documents are distinct, and as such, separate waivers must be executed.HIPAA Release Form, click here.
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) are both federal laws that protect the privacy of personal information. However, they differ in their scope and purpose.
HIPAA applies to health information held by covered entities, such as healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses. It regulates the use and disclosure of protected health information (PHI), which includes information about an individual's health status, treatments, and payment for healthcare services.
FERPA, on the other hand, applies to education records maintained by educational institutions that receive federal funding. It regulates the disclosure of personally identifiable information (PII) contained in education records, such as grades, transcripts, and disciplinary records.
While both laws protect sensitive information, HIPAA is primarily focused on protecting the privacy of health information, while FERPA is focused on protecting the privacy of education records. In addition, HIPAA has more detailed requirements for the use and disclosure of PHI, including the requirement for covered entities to obtain patient consent before sharing PHI with third parties. FERPA has similar consent requirements, but they are more limited and are focused on giving students and their parents control over the disclosure of their education records.
