{"id":6,"date":"2013-08-23T16:06:01","date_gmt":"2013-08-23T23:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/mayflower-template-full\/?page_id=6"},"modified":"2026-03-19T13:33:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T20:33:06","slug":"introduction","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ferpa\/","title":{"rendered":"Introduction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what\">What is FERPA?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Family Educational Rights &amp; Privacy Act (FERPA), enacted in 1974, is a federal law designed to safeguard the privacy of student records. Under FERPA, current and former students have the right to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Inspect and review their education records.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seek to have their records amended.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limit disclosure of information from their records.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Educational institutions that receive funds under any program administered by the U.S. Secretary of Education are required by law to comply with FERPA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Required FERPA training<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>earn the essentials of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and ensure you\u2019re compliant with federal regulations. This training will help you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Grasp the basics of FERPA<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protect student education records<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Know when to share or withhold information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Access the Training: <\/strong>All employees are assigned this training automatically and the link is sent to their Bellevue College email. Alternatively, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/bc.bridgeapp.com\">login to Bridge<\/a>  and find the required training on your dashboard.. The system logs you in automatically if you are connected to the Bellevue College domain.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Need Help? <\/strong>If you have any technical issues or questions related to the training, please email <a href=\"mailto:bcbridgehelp@bellevuecollege.edu\">bridgehelp@bellevuecollege.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FERPA \u201cDanger Zones\u201d for Faculty (not related to posting of grades):<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25aa Circulating a printed class list with student name and Student ID number or grades as an<br>attendance roster.<br>\u25aa Discussing the progress of any student with anyone other than the student without the<br>consent of the student (e.g. parents, employers, other students).<br>\u25aa Providing anyone with lists of students enrolled in your classes for any commercial purpose.<br>\u25aa Providing anyone with student schedules or assist anyone other than college employees in<br>finding a student on campus.<br>\u25aa Giving out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/current-students\/records-grades\/ferpa\/notification\/\">directory information<\/a> about a student who has requested confidentiality.<br>\u25aa Re-disclosing confidential information to a third party without authorization.<br>\u25aa Including personally identifiable information about student \u201cA\u201d in student \u201cB\u2019s\u201d record<br>without student A\u2019s permission.<br>\u25aa Including FERPA protected information in a letter of reference without the <a href=\"https:\/\/forms.bellevuecollege.edu\/studentcentral\/information-release-authorization\/\">student\u2019s written<br>permission<\/a> (this includes the student\u2019s GPA or grade in your class).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapsibles accordion\" id=\"accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse card bg-default text-bg-default\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading_b9d64878-c19c-4d28-8da7-0f77d0111785\"><h3 class=\"mb-0\"><button class=\"btn collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapse_b9d64878-c19c-4d28-8da7-0f77d0111785\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_b9d64878-c19c-4d28-8da7-0f77d0111785\">What is an education record, and what records are exempted under FERPA?<\/button><\/h3><\/div><div id=\"collapse_b9d64878-c19c-4d28-8da7-0f77d0111785\" class=\"collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_b9d64878-c19c-4d28-8da7-0f77d0111785\" data-parent=\"#accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\"><div class=\"card-body\">\n<p>&#8220;Education records&#8221; are records that are directly related to a student and that are maintained by an educational agency or institution or a party acting for or on behalf of the agency or institution. These records include but are not limited to grades, transcripts, class lists, student course schedules, student financial information (at the postsecondary level), and student discipline files. The information may be recorded in any way, including, but not limited to, handwriting, print, computer media, videotape, audiotape, film, microfilm, microfiche, and e-mail.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse card bg-default text-bg-default\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading_acfbc1e4-cb66-4b03-af51-fe5761d80d75\"><h3 class=\"mb-0\"><button class=\"btn collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapse_acfbc1e4-cb66-4b03-af51-fe5761d80d75\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_acfbc1e4-cb66-4b03-af51-fe5761d80d75\">What is directory information and when can it be released?<\/button><\/h3><\/div><div id=\"collapse_acfbc1e4-cb66-4b03-af51-fe5761d80d75\" class=\"collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_acfbc1e4-cb66-4b03-af51-fe5761d80d75\" data-parent=\"#accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\"><div class=\"card-body\">\n<p>Designated directory information at Bellevue College includes the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Student&#8217;s name<br>Major field of study<br>Enrollment status<br>Dates of attendance<br>Participation in recognized sports<br>Degree or certificate earned<br>Term degree or certificate awarded<br>Honors<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students who do not wish to authorize the release of directory information can place a FERPA block on their account. To apply a FERPA restriction students can login to their ctcLink account and select <strong>Student Homepage&#8211;&gt; Profile&#8211;&gt; Privacy Restriction&#8211;&gt;Select FERPA Block&#8211;&gt; Restrict All.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consequences of restricting Directory Information include restricting degree and enrollment verification to employers. The name and degree received is also restricted, which indicates the students name could not be published in a program or in a press release without the written consent of the student.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse card bg-default text-bg-default\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading_52267264-0365-44cc-a02a-a29345e235b9\"><h3 class=\"mb-0\"><button class=\"btn collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapse_52267264-0365-44cc-a02a-a29345e235b9\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_52267264-0365-44cc-a02a-a29345e235b9\">May I disclose education records to an employee without student consent?<\/button><\/h3><\/div><div id=\"collapse_52267264-0365-44cc-a02a-a29345e235b9\" class=\"collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_52267264-0365-44cc-a02a-a29345e235b9\" data-parent=\"#accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\"><div class=\"card-body\">\n<p>FERPA permits an educational agency or institution to disclose, without consent, personally identifiable information from students\u2019 education records only to school officials within the educational agency or institution that the educational agency or institution has determined to have legitimate educational interests in the information. Generally, a school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill their professional responsibility.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse card bg-default text-bg-default\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading_bfb2fb48-cd94-4264-9801-b5e03255119e\"><h3 class=\"mb-0\"><button class=\"btn collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapse_bfb2fb48-cd94-4264-9801-b5e03255119e\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_bfb2fb48-cd94-4264-9801-b5e03255119e\">Can a parent or a spouse view their student\u2019s education records?<\/button><\/h3><\/div><div id=\"collapse_bfb2fb48-cd94-4264-9801-b5e03255119e\" class=\"collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_bfb2fb48-cd94-4264-9801-b5e03255119e\" data-parent=\"#accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\"><div class=\"card-body\">\n<p>No. Parents and spouses of currently (or formerly) enrolled students do NOT have the right to a student\u2019s education record regardless of their involvement in funding the education of the student or the age of the student.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse card bg-default text-bg-default\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading_e90ff4da-c31b-481c-a29a-b04cfa7f47fa\"><h3 class=\"mb-0\"><button class=\"btn collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapse_e90ff4da-c31b-481c-a29a-b04cfa7f47fa\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_e90ff4da-c31b-481c-a29a-b04cfa7f47fa\">What if I am contacted by a parent who is concerned about how their son\/daughter is doing in my class?<\/button><\/h3><\/div><div id=\"collapse_e90ff4da-c31b-481c-a29a-b04cfa7f47fa\" class=\"collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_e90ff4da-c31b-481c-a29a-b04cfa7f47fa\" data-parent=\"#accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\"><div class=\"card-body\">\n<p>Inform the parent that you cannot release information about grades or student progress without written consent from the student. Although you may release directory information, you are under no obligation to do so. Additionally, please note that if written consent has been received,  information protected by FERPA cannot be released over the phone. If they are persistent, the best approach is for the parent to talk directly with the student.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse card bg-default text-bg-default\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading_60e45eec-4566-45c4-aeef-68b73b2c20b0\"><h3 class=\"mb-0\"><button class=\"btn collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapse_60e45eec-4566-45c4-aeef-68b73b2c20b0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_60e45eec-4566-45c4-aeef-68b73b2c20b0\">Can I release information about a students&#8217; progress to a school counselor?<\/button><\/h3><\/div><div id=\"collapse_60e45eec-4566-45c4-aeef-68b73b2c20b0\" class=\"collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_60e45eec-4566-45c4-aeef-68b73b2c20b0\" data-parent=\"#accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\"><div class=\"card-body\">\n<p>No. FERPA requires written consent from the student in order to release any information from a student&#8217;s educational record. Please contact the <a href=\"mailto:steve.downing@bellevuecollege.edu\">Dean of Enrollment Management<\/a> if you have any questions.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse card bg-default text-bg-default\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading_22963df1-6ca8-4e07-89b5-5983cec7534d\"><h3 class=\"mb-0\"><button class=\"btn collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapse_22963df1-6ca8-4e07-89b5-5983cec7534d\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_22963df1-6ca8-4e07-89b5-5983cec7534d\">Does FERPA permit school officials to release information that they personally observed or of which they have personal knowledge?<\/button><\/h3><\/div><div id=\"collapse_22963df1-6ca8-4e07-89b5-5983cec7534d\" class=\"collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_22963df1-6ca8-4e07-89b5-5983cec7534d\" data-parent=\"#accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\"><div class=\"card-body\">\n<p>FERPA applies to the disclosure of education records and of personally identifiable information (PII) from education records that are maintained by the school. Therefore, FERPA does not prohibit a school official from releasing information about a student that was obtained through the school official\u2019s personal knowledge or observation, rather than from the student\u2019s education records. For example, if a teacher overhears a student making threatening remarks to other students, FERPA does not protect that information from disclosure. Therefore, a school official may disclose what he or she overheard to appropriate authorities, including disclosing the information to local law enforcement officials, school officials, and parents.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse card bg-default text-bg-default\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"heading_dac10ea1-78b5-42c8-a28f-50f49ab91625\"><h3 class=\"mb-0\"><button class=\"btn collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapse_dac10ea1-78b5-42c8-a28f-50f49ab91625\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_dac10ea1-78b5-42c8-a28f-50f49ab91625\">I have a question that isn&#8217;t answered here.<\/button><\/h3><\/div><div id=\"collapse_dac10ea1-78b5-42c8-a28f-50f49ab91625\" class=\"collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_dac10ea1-78b5-42c8-a28f-50f49ab91625\" data-parent=\"#accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_3c45bb8e-3354-4304-8e25-fbb505970c1c\"><div class=\"card-body\">\n<p>Please contact the <a href=\"mailto:steve.downing@bellevuecollege.edu\">registrar and Dean of Enrollment Management<\/a>, Steve Downing by email or call 425-564-3119.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is FERPA? The Family Educational Rights &amp; Privacy Act (FERPA), enacted in 1974, is a federal law designed to safeguard the privacy of student records. Under FERPA, current and former students have the right to: Inspect and review their education records. Seek to have their records amended. Limit disclosure of information from their records. <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ferpa\/\">...more about Introduction<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-6","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ferpa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ferpa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ferpa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ferpa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/83"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ferpa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ferpa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":218,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ferpa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions\/218"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ferpa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}