Which law protects students' rights regarding their education records?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is the law that protects students' privacy rights concerning their education records. Under FERPA, parents and eligible students have the right to access and review educational records maintained by schools, as well as the right to request amendments to those records if they are believed to be inaccurate or misleading. Additionally, FERPA restricts the disclosure of personally identifiable information from students' education records without consent, ensuring a level of privacy that is crucial in educational settings.

In contrast, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) focuses specifically on ensuring that students with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education tailored to their individual needs. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) aimed primarily at improving educational outcomes and increasing accountability in schools, while the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) established a framework for federal funding and support for education but does not specifically address the privacy of educational records. Thus, FERPA is the law that directly safeguards students' rights regarding their educational records.