FERPA Compliance
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 educational institutions that receive federal funding, governing access to and disclosure of student information. For developers, it involves implementing systems and practices to ensure student data is handled securely and confidentially.
Developers should learn FERPA compliance when building or maintaining software for educational institutions, such as student information systems, learning management platforms, or data analytics tools. It's crucial to avoid legal penalties, protect student privacy, and maintain institutional trust by ensuring data access controls, encryption, and audit trails align with FERPA requirements.