Does FERPA regulate student publications and exclude them from being digitized?
Question
We received two grant applications for projects involving the digitization of high school student newspapers/magazines. The schools have given permission for these materials to be made available on a historic resource-focused, free database.
Answer
It took me 4 cups of coffee to figure out how to reply to this question! And it’s not because I didn’t know the answer.
FERPA is the “Family Rights Privacy Act.” It bars disclosure of students’ “education records.”
“Education records” (like grades, disciplinary reports, attendance) are defined by FERPA as records: