FERPA
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) is a federal law that protects student education records. Think of it as the education world's version of medical privacy laws. It sets rules for how schools handle student information, who can access it, and what rights parents and students have regarding their records. When you see FERPA mentioned in a resume, it usually means the person understands how to properly handle confidential student information and has experience following these important privacy guidelines in an educational setting.
Examples in Resumes
Maintained strict FERPA compliance while managing student records database
Conducted staff training on FERPA regulations and privacy protocols
Developed FERPA-compliant procedures for handling student data
Typical job title: "Education Administrators"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Education Administrators
Professional Organizations
Online Resources
Job Boards
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you handle a situation where a divorced parent requests access to their child's records?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of FERPA rights for both custodial and non-custodial parents, explain verification procedures, and mention checking court orders that might limit access.
Q: Describe how you would develop a FERPA training program for staff.
Expected Answer: Should discuss creating comprehensive training materials, regular updates, real-world scenarios, and methods to ensure staff understanding and compliance.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What student information can be released as 'directory information' under FERPA?
Expected Answer: Should explain common directory information items like name, address, honors/awards, and that schools must notify parents about what they consider directory information and allow opt-out.
Q: How do you ensure FERPA compliance when sharing student information with other staff members?
Expected Answer: Should discuss 'legitimate educational interest' concept, need-to-know basis, and proper procedures for sharing information internally.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the basic rights that FERPA provides to parents and eligible students?
Expected Answer: Should mention right to inspect records, request corrections, control disclosure of information, and know that rights transfer to students at 18 or when they enter post-secondary education.
Q: What's the first step you would take if a student requests to see their education records?
Expected Answer: Should explain basic procedure: verify student identity, ensure they're eligible (age/status), and know the school must comply within 45 days.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of FERPA regulations
- Record keeping and filing
- Basic student data handling
- Following established privacy procedures
Mid (2-5 years)
- FERPA compliance monitoring
- Staff training on privacy procedures
- Managing student information systems
- Handling special cases and exceptions
Senior (5+ years)
- Developing privacy policies
- Program-wide FERPA implementation
- Crisis management related to data breaches
- Training program development
Red Flags to Watch For
- Lack of basic understanding of student privacy rights
- History of unauthorized information disclosure
- Unfamiliarity with education records management
- No experience with student information systems
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