Which federal law helps protect information in SPED?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is the correct answer because it specifically focuses on protecting the privacy of student education records, which includes information related to special education (SPED). FERPA grants parents and eligible students rights concerning their education records, such as the right to access them and request amendments if they believe the records are inaccurate.

In the context of special education, FERPA ensures that sensitive information about a student’s educational needs, evaluations, and services is kept confidential, requiring schools to obtain written consent before disclosing personally identifiable information to third parties. This legal framework is crucial for safeguarding the rights of students with disabilities and ensuring that their private information is handled appropriately.

While HIPAA does protect health information, it does not cover educational records, which makes it less relevant for SPED. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is primarily focused on ensuring students with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education and does not specifically address privacy issues in the same way as FERPA. The Privacy Act of 1974 governs how federal agencies handle personal information but is not specifically tailored to educational environments or student records like FERPA.