What rights does the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) grant students?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) grants students significant rights regarding their education records, fundamentally empowering them with the ability to access their records and request corrections to any inaccurate information. This is a cornerstone of FERPA, as it ensures that students can verify the data held about them, which is crucial for their academic journey. By allowing students to check and amend their records, FERPA promotes transparency and protects their privacy, enabling them to maintain control over their personal information in educational settings.

While some options might seem related to student rights, they do not align with the core provisions of FERPA. For instance, opting out of federal funding does not fall under the rights typically granted to students—rather, it pertains to institutional decisions. Similarly, anonymous grading and review of teacher evaluations relate to other educational policies but do not pertain to the specific rights established under FERPA regarding access to and correction of personal education records.