The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99), commonly known as FERPA, is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Students have specific, protected rights regarding the release of such records and FERPA requires that institutions adhere strictly to these guidelines. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. For example, if a student pays for tuition with a Pell Grant or subsidized federal loan, the school must comply with FERPA.

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