“LEGITIMATE EDUCATIONAL INTEREST”

"LEGITIMATE EDUCATIONAL
INTEREST"

Decorative Image: Text Box: THE DEMONSTRATED NEED TO KNOW BY THOSE OFFICIALS OF AN INSTITUTION WHO ACT IN THE STUDENT’S EDUCATIONAL INTEREST, INCLUDING FACULTY, ADMINISTRATION, CLERICAL AND PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, AND OTHER PERSONS WHO MANAGE STUDENT RECORD INFORMATION. FERPA DOES NOT DEFINE “LEGITIMATE EDUCATIONAL INTEREST.” IT STATES THAT INSTITUTIONS MUST SPECIFY THE CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING IT. USUALLY IDENTIFIED AS A “CONTRACTED DUTY” OF THE SCHOOL OFFICIAL

Like the term "school officials," FERPA is silent on what constitutes a "legitimate educational interest." (34 CFR 99.7(a)(3)(iii); see Appendix 2 of the 2001 AACRAO FERPA Guide.) Therefore, each institution must articulate what this term means and include it in its annual notification. The definition in this slide came from a very early (1980's) AACRAO FERPA Guide.

This provides another way of explaining/introducing "legitimate educational interest" to the group.

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