Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19)

Abstract

The Department of Education's Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) prepared this document to assist school officials working with public health officials in managing public health issues related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), while protecting the privacy of students' education records. Understanding the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) helps enable school officials to act quickly and with certainty when confronting challenges that affect the health or safety of students or other individuals. Through information sharing and coordination with public health departments, educational agencies and institutions can help protect their schools and communities. The purpose of this document is to assist school officials in protecting student privacy in the context of COVID-19 as they consider the disclosure of personally identifiable information (PII) from student education records to individuals and entities who may not already have access to that information. School officials should work with their State and local public health officials to determine the information needed to address this public health concern. Understanding how, what, and when information can be shared is a critical part of preparedness.