Training on Education Sector Records and FERPA Compliance

Module 1: Foundations of FERPA and Educational Records Management

• Overview of FERPA principles, purpose, and legal requirements
• Defining education records and protected student information
• Rights of students, parents, and educational institutions under FERPA
• Roles and responsibilities in managing student records compliance
• Case Study: Review of FERPA compliance failures in higher education institutions
• Practical: Identify and classify education records within a school environment

Module 2: Student Records Management and Access Control

• Managing academic, enrollment, disciplinary, and student support records
• Best practices for handling physical and electronic student records
• Consent requirements, disclosure rules, and access management
• Maintaining confidentiality and records accuracy
• Case Study: Improper disclosure of student records and institutional response
• Practical: Develop a compliant student records access and release procedure

Module 3: Faculty, Administrative, and Institutional Records

• Managing faculty and administrative records in educational institutions
• FERPA considerations when handling student-related information by staff and faculty
• Intersections between FERPA, Title IX, HIPAA, and institutional policies
• Documentation standards and accountability practices
• Case Study: Faculty misuse of confidential student information
• Practical: Conduct a compliance review of sample institutional records practices

Module 4: Digital Records Management and Data Security

• Managing electronic student information systems (SIS) securely
• Cybersecurity principles for education records protection
• Data retention, archival, and secure disposal practices
• Responding to data breaches and unauthorized access incidents
• Case Study: Cybersecurity breach affecting student records systems
• Practical: Create a digital records security and access audit checklist

Module 5: Developing a FERPA-Compliant Records Management Program

• Establishing FERPA-compliant records policies and procedures
• Staff training and institutional awareness strategies
• Managing records requests, complaints, and compliance investigations
• Monitoring, auditing, and improving records management practices
• Final Project: Develop a FERPA compliance and records governance framework for an educational institution