FERPA
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) is a U.S. federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. It applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education, granting parents and eligible students rights to access and control their educational information. For developers, understanding FERPA is crucial when building or maintaining systems that handle student data in educational contexts.
Developers should learn FERPA when working on educational technology (EdTech) projects, student information systems, or any software that processes student records in the U.S. to ensure legal compliance and avoid penalties. It is essential for implementing data privacy features, such as access controls, encryption, and audit trails, to protect sensitive information like grades, attendance, and personal details.