Student Privacy and Confidentiality

The purpose of this Wakelet is to provide material and information concerning student privacy and confidentiality in K-12 schools. Privacy and confidentiality should be respected in all situations, including K-12 schools. It is not only a matter of ethics, but it is also the law. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. This would also include student health information in students' educational records. However, students may not be aware of theirs rights to privacy and confidentiality. Teachers and other educational faculty and staff may easily violate students rights of privacy and confidentiality because they are unaware of the laws. Parents may have questions as to what they are allowed to see and request when it comes to sensitive student information. Librarians may need resources to better inform themselves and to provide school based or district based training and information.