Some of the most important provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 concerning stored data include: * **Student's Right to Access:** Parents and eligible students (those 18 or older or attending a post-secondary institution) have the right to inspect and review the student's education records. This includes records maintained by the school, district, or any entity acting on their behalf. * **Consent for Disclosure:** Generally, schools must have written consent from the parent or eligible student before disclosing personally identifiable information from education records to outside parties. There are specific exceptions to this consent requirement, such as disclosures to school officials with legitimate educational interests, to comply with a judicial order or subpoena, or in cases of health and safety emergencies. * **Accuracy of Records:** Schools must take reasonable steps to ensure that education records are accurate, up-to-date, and that the personally identifiable information contained within them is not misused. Parents and eligible students have the right to request amendments to records they believe are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of their privacy. * **Definition of Education Records:** FERPA defines "education records" broadly to include a wide range of information maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a person acting for such agency or institution which relates to a student. This can include grades, transcripts, disciplinary records, and personally identifiable information like names, addresses, and social security numbers. However, certain records are excluded, such as law enforcement unit records, sole possession notes sent only to the maker, employment records, and medical records of students over 18 which are maintained by a physician or other recognized professional and made on the occasion of a visit. * **Directory Information:** Schools may release certain "directory information" without consent, such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honor roll status, and participation in officially recognized activities and sports. However, parents and eligible students must be notified of these categories of directory information annually and have the right to refuse disclosure of this information. * **Record of Disclosure:** Schools must maintain a record of all disclosures of personally identifiable information from education records, except for disclosures made to school officials with legitimate educational interests or those made with written consent. This record must include the parties who received the information and their legitimate interest in receiving it. * **Protection of Personally Identifiable Information (PII):** FERPA aims to protect sensitive PII within education records, preventing its unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. This includes ensuring systems and procedures are in place to safeguard this data.