FERPA primarily governs which aspect in K-12 settings?

• A. Student confidentiality and access to records
• B. School funding
• C. Teacher qualifications
• D. Transportation policies

Answer: (A)

FERPA focuses on protecting student privacy and controlling who can access education records in K-12 settings. Schools must keep educational records confidential, give parents of minors (or eligible students) the right to inspect and request amendments to those records, and limit disclosures to those with a legitimate educational interest or under other allowed circumstances. This means information about a student’s grades, attendance, health, and related data is not shared indiscriminately. Directory information may be released if parents haven’t opted out, but the default is to safeguard confidentiality.

This is why the option about student confidentiality and access to records best fits FERPA. It isn’t about school funding, teacher qualifications, or transportation policies, which are governed by different laws and policies rather than FERPA.