The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law passed in 1974 to protect the privacy of student education records. FERPA gives parents certain rights to their child’s education records; however, these rights transfer to the child when he or she turns 18. School districts are required to notify parents and students of their rights under FERPA each year.
This 2-part assignment will allow you to exhibit your understanding of FERPA and provide critical thinking responses to ethical scenarios involving student rights and student-teacher relationships.
Part 1: FERPA Brochure
Design a visually appealing tri-fold brochure that could be given to new teachers and parents to inform them about the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Note: Locate and use a free brochure maker to complete this assignment.
Address the following questions in your brochure:
- Who may and may not see student records?
- What details does your school district policy contain that may give more information specific to your district?
- What is the full extent of student records?
- What student records are considered directory records that can be released, and to whom can these records be released?
- What are some examples of confidentiality in the school setting, and what are some examples of confidentiality in the community setting?
- What are some other important points that you think merit consideration in the brochure?
Integrate research into your brochure and cite sources used according to APA guidelines.
Part 2: Ethics Scenarios
Read the 2 ethics scenarios below and answer the questions that follow. Each scenario response should be at least 100 words in length and submitted in a Microsoft Word document.
Ethics Scenario 1:
Ms. Babble arrived in the teacher’s lunchroom for her lunch. She sits down and immediately begins to complain about one of her students and how awful her morning was because of the student. She uses the student’s name.
Respond to the following questions:
- What does the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) say about the confidentiality of student information? How does it apply to this scenario?
- What are the ramifications for this scenario if a substitute teacher sitting at the table is a relative of the student and reports her?
Ethics Scenario 2:
Mr. Playwright volunteered to work on the school play after school with students. The session ends at 5:30 p.m. each afternoon when he works on the play with the students. One student’s parent is habitually late. It is 6:30 p.m. Mr. Playwright has decided to take the student home instead of waiting any longer.
Respond to the following questions:
- What are the personal ramifications for Mr. Playwright if he transports a student in his own vehicle?
- What is your school district’s policy on the transportation of students?
- What actions should you take before you transport a student in your personal vehicle?
Integrate research into your responses and cite sources used according to APA guidelines.
