FERPA, the federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, has been scrutinized, criticized and has left many journalists ostracized after being denied information. But now SPJ offers the Reporter’s Guide to FERPA to help you navigate the act that has been used to seal off information from the media and public. The SPJ Freedom of Information Committee produced this guide for national Sunshine Week. The committee hopes the resource will help reporters and citizens acquire school records they are legally entitled to while still protecting student privacy.
Big props go out to former national SPJ president Carolyn Carlson, who spearheaded the project, and contributors Charles Davis, David Chartrand, Sonny Albarado and Jodi Cleesattle. You can learn more about FERPA on the SPJ National web site at the link above.