Which Act limits the disclosure of student records?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is the legislation that specifically limits the disclosure of student records, ensuring that parents and eligible students have certain rights regarding the student’s education records. Under FERPA, schools must obtain written consent from the parent or eligible student before disclosing personally identifiable information from a student's education records, with specific exceptions provided. This law is crucial because it protects the privacy of students and helps to maintain the confidentiality of their educational information.

In contrast, while the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is related to health data and protects medical records, it does not govern the disclosure of educational records. The Keeping Children and Families Safe Act addresses child welfare and safety but is not focused on the privacy of educational records. Additionally, while there are privacy rules established under various laws, the Privacy Rule of 2001 does not specifically pertain to the disclosure of student records in an educational context like FERPA does. Thus, the choice of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act accurately reflects the law that protects student records from unauthorized disclosure.