Which federal regulation governs how researchers can obtain data about a student's disciplinary status from academic records?

Which federal regulation governs how researchers can obtain data about a student's disciplinary status from academic records?

• A. HIPAA
• B. FERPA
• C. PPRA
• D. COPPA

Answer: (B)

Access to a student’s disciplinary status in academic records is governed by FERPA. This law protects the privacy of student education records and controls how that information can be disclosed to researchers, typically requiring either the student’s or parent’s written consent or use of FERPA-approved mechanisms such as de-identified data or data-use agreements with IRB oversight. HIPAA covers health information, not standard education records, so it doesn’t regulate access to disciplinary data held by schools. PPRA deals with protections related to surveys and certain evaluations of students, not the general rules for obtaining education records, and COPPA focuses on protecting online data for children under 13, which is outside the context of accessing disciplinary records in schools.

Access to a student’s disciplinary status in academic records is governed by FERPA. This law protects the privacy of student education records and controls how that information can be disclosed to researchers, typically requiring either the student’s or parent’s written consent or use of FERPA-approved mechanisms such as de-identified data or data-use agreements with IRB oversight. HIPAA covers health information, not standard education records, so it doesn’t regulate access to disciplinary data held by schools. PPRA deals with protections related to surveys and certain evaluations of students, not the general rules for obtaining education records, and COPPA focuses on protecting online data for children under 13, which is outside the context of accessing disciplinary records in schools.