[ GLOSSARY ]
What is an education record?
Definition
Law and privacyEducation record
Under FERPA, an education record is a record directly related to a student that a school, or someone acting for it, maintains.
Why it matters for schools
Stored AI chats can fall under that definition. The Education Department's Student Privacy Policy Office stressed in August 2026 that parents may inspect all education records, and FERPA does not distinguish "official" from "unofficial" records. That is why no school AI tool can promise that chats are never visible to anyone. In practice, plan for a parent's request to see records to run through the school, and decide in advance which AI records the school holds and for how long. Not legal advice.
[ FAQ ]
Questions and answers
Are AI chat logs education records?
At FERPA schools, chats a vendor stores for the school are likely education records.
Can parents inspect AI chat records?
Where FERPA applies, parents may ask to inspect education records, and the school has 45 days to respond.
Does FERPA treat informal records differently?
No. FERPA does not distinguish official from unofficial records.
[ SOURCES ]
Sources
Facts checked Oct 18, 2026.
- 134 CFR 99.3, FERPA definitionsRead Oct 19, 2026 · law.cornell.edu
- 2U.S. Department of Education SPPO, back-to-school letterAug 26, 2026 · studentprivacy.ed.gov
- 334 CFR 99.10, right to inspect and review education recordsRead Oct 18, 2026 · law.cornell.edu
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