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Compliance Guide

FERPA Compliance
for AI in Education

A comprehensive guide for educational institutions implementing AI systems while protecting student privacy and maintaining FERPA compliance.

Samvid for Education

What's Covered

  • FERPA fundamentals and key requirements
  • AI-specific compliance considerations
  • Practical compliance checklist
  • Vendor evaluation criteria

Last Updated: January 2026

Understanding FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. It applies to all schools that receive funds from the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents and eligible students (those 18 or older, or attending post-secondary institutions) specific rights regarding their education records:

  • The right to inspect and review education records
  • The right to request amendments to inaccurate records
  • The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information (PII)
  • The right to file complaints with the Department of Education

Important

FERPA violations can result in loss of federal funding—a significant consequence for educational institutions. Non-compliance isn't just a legal risk; it's an existential one for most schools.

Prior Consent

Schools must obtain written consent from parents or eligible students before disclosing personally identifiable information (PII) from education records.

Access Rights

Students and parents have the right to inspect and review education records, and to request corrections to inaccurate or misleading information.

Legitimate Educational Interest

Schools may disclose PII to school officials with legitimate educational interest without consent, but must define who qualifies and what constitutes legitimate interest.

Directory Information

Schools can designate certain information as "directory information" that may be disclosed without consent, but must notify students and allow opt-out.

AI-Specific FERPA Considerations

Implementing AI in education introduces unique challenges for FERPA compliance. Here are the key areas institutions must address.

Data Minimization

  • Only collect student data necessary for the AI system's educational purpose
  • Avoid collecting sensitive data unless absolutely required
  • Implement data retention limits and automatic purging
  • Anonymize or de-identify data where possible

Vendor Management

  • Ensure AI vendors qualify as "school officials" under FERPA
  • Include specific FERPA compliance requirements in contracts
  • Verify vendor data handling practices and security measures
  • Require breach notification provisions in agreements

Access Controls

  • Implement role-based access to student data
  • Maintain audit logs of who accesses what data
  • Ensure AI systems only access data needed for their function
  • Prevent unauthorized data sharing between AI components

Transparency

  • Inform students about AI systems that process their data
  • Document what student data AI systems access and why
  • Provide clear privacy notices about AI usage
  • Enable students to understand how AI decisions affect them

FERPA Compliance Checklist for AI

Use this checklist to evaluate your institution's readiness for AI implementation.

  • Documented AI acceptable use policy covering student data
  • Designated data protection officer or privacy lead
  • Annual FERPA training for staff using AI systems
  • Incident response plan for potential FERPA breaches

How Samvid Supports FERPA Compliance

Built from the ground up with privacy and compliance in mind, Samvid makes it easier for educational institutions to deploy AI responsibly.

Multi-Tenant Data Isolation

Each institution's data is completely isolated. Student records never comingle with other organizations' data.

Role-Based Access Control

Fine-grained permissions ensure only authorized personnel can access specific student data based on legitimate educational interest.

Complete Audit Trails

Every data access is logged with who, what, when, and why—providing the documentation FERPA requires.

Data Minimization by Design

Our AI systems only access the specific data needed for each educational function, not entire student records.

Privacy-First Logging

Student interactions with AI can be logged anonymously for improvement purposes without creating identifiable records.

On-Premise & Cloud Options

Deploy in your own infrastructure for complete data control, or use our SOC 2 compliant cloud with data residency options.

Learn More About Samvid for Education

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about FERPA and AI in educational settings.

Additional Resources

Student Privacy Policy Office

Official FERPA guidance and resources from the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA FAQ

Answers to common FERPA questions directly from the Department of Education.

AI Policy Builder

Create a customized AI governance policy for your institution with FERPA considerations built in.

Samvid for Education

Learn how Samvid's AI platform is purpose-built for educational institutions.

Need Help with FERPA Compliance?

Our team can help you evaluate AI solutions and ensure your implementation meets FERPA requirements. Let's discuss your specific needs.

Disclaimer: This guide is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Educational institutions should consult with qualified legal counsel regarding specific FERPA compliance questions and requirements.