Question What is FERPA? Answer The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of students and their education records. FERPA says colleges / universities cannot release student information without the written permission of the student. This means student information cannot be shared with others (parents, spouses, or other individuals) without student consent and student signature. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. Also called the Buckley Amendment, FERPA ensures the following rights to all students: The right to review their education records The right to seek amendment to inaccurate or misleading records The right to consent to disclosure of their education records The right to file a complaint with the FERPA office in Washington, D.C.