How does the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affect school counselors?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) plays a crucial role in protecting the privacy of student education records while also ensuring that parents and eligible students have specific rights regarding those records. One of the key provisions of FERPA is the requirement for educational institutions to inform parents and eligible students of their rights annually. This includes the right to inspect and review the student’s education records, request amendments to those records, and have some control over the disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the records.

By ensuring that schools provide this annual notice, FERPA promotes transparency and empowers parents and students to be active participants in the educational process. This notification is essential for maintaining an open line of communication between schools, families, and students, and is a fundamental aspect of the legislation.

While the other options touch upon various aspects of record access, they do not capture the essence of FERPA's requirements as accurately as the correct choice. For instance, the act does not grant full access to all student records for staff, nor does it limit access solely to parents, as certain disclosures can be made without parental consent under specific circumstances. Additionally, the assertion that FERPA prevents counselors from contacting parents about students is misleading; while counselors must adhere to privacy regulations, they