The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA; 20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a U.S. federal law designed to protect students’ privacy and personal access to educational records. FERPA applies to any educational agency or elementary, secondary, or postsecondary education institution to which federal funds have been made available under any program administered by the U.S. secretary of education. FERPA is one of the most often cited federal acts guiding educational governance. This entry further defines FERPA and its scope and then reviews the history of the act and its various amendments.