Confidentiality/FERPA?
8. May public officials conducting disaster relief activities be given access to student records? The health and safety emergency exception to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act’s (FERPA’s) general consent rule allows disclosure of education records to appropriate parties in connection with an emergency, if the knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of individuals. (34 CFR § 99.31(a)(10) and § 99.36) Under the health and safety exception, school officials may share relevant information with “appropriate parties,” that is, those parties whose knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health and safety of the student or other individuals. (34 C.F.R. § 99.36(a)) Typically, law enforcement officials, public health officials, and trained medical personnel are “appropriate parties” for purposes of this exception. Under these extraordinary circumstances, the USDE also will consider entities that provide housing and medical services to
