What is the primary purpose of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)?

The primary purpose of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is to grant parents and guardians the legal right to review their student's educational records. This means that parents can inspect, review, and request amendments to their children's records, ensuring they have access to important information regarding their child's education. FERPA emphasizes the protection of student privacy and gives parents crucial tools to understand and oversee the educational data that schools maintain about their children.

By providing this right, FERPA ensures transparency within the educational system and reinforces parental involvement in the educational experiences of their children. Understanding this aspect of FERPA is crucial for school counselors, as it directly influences how they manage student information and communicate with families.