Who Needs Training
Everyone who accesses student records needs FERPA training: teachers, administrators, counselors, office staff, instructional aides, IT staff, and even volunteers and contractors with data access.
Essential Training Topics
- • What FERPA protects and why it matters
- • What constitutes education records
- • When disclosure requires consent
- • Key exceptions (school officials, emergencies, etc.)
- • How to handle parent requests
- • Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- • Reporting potential violations
FERPA Compliance
Ensure your data practices meet FERPA requirements and protect student privacy.
Role-Specific Training
Beyond basics, provide role-specific guidance: teachers on classroom privacy, counselors on record sharing with colleges, office staff on phone and email requests, IT on data security.
Training Best Practices
- • Use scenarios and examples, not just rules
- • Make it interactive, not just lecture
- • Provide annual refreshers
- • Document training completion
- • Include FERPA in new employee onboarding
Resources & Guides
Access implementation guides, best practices, and training materials for your team.
Key Takeaways
- Train all staff who access student records, not just administrators.
- Cover essentials plus role-specific scenarios relevant to each position.
- Use scenarios, provide annual refreshers, and document completion.
James Okonkwo
Senior Implementation Specialist
Former charter school administrator with deep expertise in Michigan charter school accountability and authorizer relations.
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