This is great to know that the law specifies what info can be released and what not, in what frequencies etc. I found the details quite important to be revisited as soon as we see any confusion regarding such procedures.
It is important to know what your institution defines as "directory" and "non-directory."
Basically to make sure before releasing any information, that you have the student's permission, unless they have a parent listed as their guardian, then you can release to the parent without their permission. It's best just to keep everything under "lock and key" so to speak.
Understanding and following FERPA rules and regulations are here to protect the student's information. Unfortunately, in the past students have been harmed due to others gaining access to the student information.
Do not share student's information without the consent of the student.
In the "FERPA Compliance" module, I learned some topics such as directory and non-directory identified records, who could access the student record, some information that could be disclosed without student permissions, etc
I learned that the rules are very clear. Should you come across a situation that concerns the release of a students records to anybody besides the student, you should take a moment to ensure compliance with the regulations is maintained. A legitimate complaint could be costly to you and your institution, especially in the price of the student body trust.
Although a lot of the FERPA information is confusing, we faculty members have to regularly review this information to ensure compliance and max knowledge
