• "The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education" (U.S. Department of Education)

• This law gives parents and guardians certain rights regarding their child's educational records

• Related links:

  • www.2.ed.gov

  • studentprivacy.ed.gov

  • www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhlDkS8hvMU

Rights Included Under FERPA:

• Guardians have the right to review their child's educational records

• Guardians have the right to request that the schools change/ correct records they believe are incorrect or misleading

• Schools must have written permission from the parent/ guardian to release the student's educational records

• Related links:

  • https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Student-Support-Teams/Documents/Family%20Educational%20Rights%20and%20Privacy%20Act.pdf

  • https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/sites/default/files/resource_document/file/A%20parent%20guide%20to%20ferpa_508.pdf

  • https://www.clayton.edu/registrar/docs/FERPA-Notification-9-10-13.pdf

    
    

What is The Purpose of FERPA:

• FERPA gives the individual student & parents/ guardian rights and privacy regarding their educational records

• It also establishes a framework for the privacy & correction of records in schools

• Related links:

  • https://www.apu.edu/provost/ferpa/families/#:~:text=FERPA%27s%20primary%20purpose%20is%20to,records%20at%20all%20schools%20nationwide.

  • https://www.whittier.edu/registrar/ferpa#:~:text=The%20Family%20Educational%20Rights%20and,of%20information%20from%20the%20records.

Examples of How FERPA Can Be Violated:

• The most common FERPA violations include:

  • Releasing information without consent

  • Not securing student records properly

  • Denying authorized access

  • Failing to inform parents of their rights relating to their student's records

• Related links:

  • https://www.ravennasolutions.com/blog/ferpa-everything-you-need-to-know/

  • https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Another-Brookfield-parent-reports-FEPRA-violation-17592078.php

  • https://www.thompsonhorton.com/blog/when-you-cant-un-send-it-teachers-group-chat-mishap-leads-to-ferpa-violation/

  • https://www.theeagleonline.com/article/2021/04/au-unintentionally-exposed-thousands-of-students-data-in-violation-of-federal-law

Copyright is defined as the right to copy the creators work, but you need the permission of the creator to replicate or use their work. Copyright laws cannot be violated when using public domain information such as government documents, National Archives, or public images.

The Fair use, Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act, is an exemption for limited use of the original creators content without getting their permission.

When determining what is "fair" in the world of copyright, consider these 4 factors:

1. The purpose of the use

2. The nature of the copyrighted work

3. The amount and substantiality of the portion taken

4. The value of the copyrighted work and for financial benefits

But...ALWAYS give credit to the original creator whether it is considered fair use or public domain.

Teachers can violate the fair use of copyright law by allowing students to use copyrighted content without permission from the creator. Even if the copyright law was infringed by a student rather than a teacher, it is still important to teach students that you cannot claim work as your own, give credit to the owner of the material, and encourage them to use public domain information.

Resourceful links and videos for teachers:

https://alicekeeler.com/2023/03/23/10-ways-teachers-violate-copyright-and-how-to-avoid-it/#:~:text=Sharing%20copyrighted%20materials%2C%20such%20as,domain%20or%20Creative%20Commons%20materials

https://www.rocketlawyer.com/business-and-contracts/intellectual-property/copyrights/legal-guide/copyright-and-fair-use-guidelines-for-teachers-and-schools

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvZHNwBHirQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFhF_tHrj4s

Schools and libraries are required to implement measures that will address the following: 

• Access by minors to inappropriate matter on the internet

• The safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms and other forms of direct electronic communications

• Unauthorized access, including so-called “hacking,” and other unlawful activities by minors online

• Unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors

• Measures restricting minors' access to materials harmful to them.

How could a teacher violate this act?

-One way would be by allowing students to access online material on an electronic device with no pre-set restrictions.

Useful/educational links with more information:

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/childrens-internet-protection-act

https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/childrens_internet_protection_act_cipa.pdf

Video resources on the act:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmO-Uw9_ta4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diLo2YaGfEc