What institutions must comply with the requirements of FERPA?
FERPA applies to all schools that receive funds from the U.S. Department of Education. In short, all public elementary and secondary schools are subject to FERPA. In addition, FERPA applies to colleges and universities, whether public or private, whose students receive financial assistance from the federal government. Private educational institutions that receive no federal funds under any applicable program are exempt. These are few and far between. The Family Compliance Office (FPCO) oversees FERPA. For more information about this law and the mission of this Office, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site at www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/index.html. As part of its oversight duties, FPCO has adopted regulations that supplement FERPA. The agency’s core regulations as well as major amendments adopted in December 2008 can be found on the office’s Web site at www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html. In addition, FPCO’s Web site provides guidance on various aspects of
