This guidance document provides school officials with general information about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), with a particular focus on student health records maintained by educational agencies and institutions and by third parties acting on their behalf.

In response to the February 14, 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, President Donald Trump established the Federal Commission on School Safety to review safety practices and make meaningful and actionable recommendations of best practices to keep students safe. The Commission conducted field visits,…

Enacted in 1974 to oversee the privacy, discharge, and accuracy of educational records, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) has significant implications for teachers and administrators, who should stay informed regarding its current policies and practices, and when in doubt seek legal advice regarding the privacy and disclosure…

Colleges and universities face heightened responsibilities. They possess a large volume and variety of sensitive information on a wide range of individuals, and demands for this information are growing. The students that are educated, housed, and/or employed by colleges and universities tend to be in a vulnerable age cohort: eighteen- to…

Traces the events that led to the passage of Colorado's Confidentiality of Library Records Law. The growing national trend to protect patron records is also discussed, and practical suggestions for librarians to use in dealing with privacy laws are provided. (EM)

Reviews the laws governing access to employee records including the U.S. Constitution, especially the Fourth and Fifth Amendments of the Bill of Rights; the National Labor Relations Act; the Privacy Act of 1974; state privacy statutes; and common-law privacy protections from court opinions. Recommendations for management actions are included. (EM)

The advantages and disadvantages of laws mandating openness in decision-making are outlined, and their particular relevance in the case of collegial decision-making is discussed. (MSE)

The implications of applying state sunshine laws to state colleges and universities are examined. Considerations of political pressure, loss of privacy for individuals, difficulty in obtaining candid evaluations, and the threat of competition are cited. (MSE)

This publication provides information and guidelines on the way Pennsylvania school boards should meet and conduct business under Act 84 of 1986 (the Sunshine Act) and Act 20 of 1993. The first section provides a brief history of the passage of the Sunshine Act, which mandates an open-meetings statute for public agencies. The second section offers…

Considers the effects that disclosure of elementary student records and grades can have on a child's self-esteem, peer relationships, and future school experiences. Examines an elementary school case in which student grades were announced in the classroom. Argues that teachers have a moral and professional responsibility to honor students' rights…

Confidentiality issues in cooperative relationships between schools and agencies providing services to children and families with special needs are examined. Introductory sections consider the need to share information and the nature of confidentiality restrictions. A section on overall information sharing considers: when to address the…

Employee privacy rights are considered, along with practical problems and permissible parameters of employer activity. Included is a state-by-state analysis of the status of workplace privacy. Definitions are offered of "invasion of privacy," with attention to four types of privacy invasions: (1) placing someone in a "false light," (2) the public…