[ GLOSSARY ]
What is FERPA?
Definition
Law and privacyFERPA
FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, is the federal law that protects student education records at schools that receive federal education funds, and gives parents the right to inspect them.
Why it matters for schools
A school may share records with an AI vendor without parental consent if the vendor works as a school official under the school's direct control and uses the records only for the purposes they were shared for. Class AI chats a vendor stores for a school are likely education records that parents may ask to inspect. Private schools without federal funds generally sit outside FERPA. Not legal advice.
[ FAQ ]
Questions and answers
Does FERPA apply to AI chatbots?
When a school shares education records with an AI vendor, FERPA's school-official rules apply, and stored chats are likely education records.
Does FERPA apply to private schools?
Generally not, when the school does not receive federal education funds.
Can parents see their child's AI chats under FERPA?
At FERPA schools, parents may ask to inspect education records, which likely include class chats a vendor stores for the school.
[ SOURCES ]
Sources
Facts checked Oct 18, 2026.
- 134 CFR 99.31, FERPA disclosure without consentRead Oct 18, 2026 · law.cornell.edu
- 234 CFR 99.33, limits on redisclosureRead Oct 18, 2026 · law.cornell.edu
- 3U.S. Department of Education SPPO, back-to-school letterAug 26, 2026 · studentprivacy.ed.gov
- 4U.S. Department of Education, which agencies and institutions FERPA applies toRead Oct 18, 2026 · studentprivacy.ed.gov
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