"We can't share that -- FERPA." It's one of the most common phrases in school data work, and one of the most misunderstood. For meany teams, FERPA has become a reflexive reason to say no rather than a framework for thoughtfully saying yes. This session reframes FERPA not as a compliance barrier, but as a roadmap, one that when understood, expands what your team can do with your information. 

This session models a school and community partnership data enablement framework utilized in cradle to career affiliate partners across the United States. Pulling together afterschool partners, student services, and the school as information steward allows communities to pull together, rather than in multiple directions. Narrowly detailing what FERPA requires and what it allows is a key component in ensuring that your students get the most out of their time with you. 

Learning objectives — attendees will be able to

• Explain the core provisions of FERPA in plain language — including what it protects, what it permits, and where flexibility exists.
• Identify and correct the most common FERPA misconceptions that slow down school data teams.
• Apply FERPA's legitimate educational interest, school official, and directory information provisions to real data sharing scenarios.
• Recognize when a data sharing agreement or parental consent is required — and when it isn't.
• Use FERPA as a communication tool to build confidence and trust with staff, families, and community partners.