Schools share student data constantly: grades, attendance records, IEP documents, disciplinary reports and parent communications. FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) sets strict rules about how this data can be shared. Most file sharing tools used in schools do not meet these requirements.
What FERPA Requires
FERPA protects the privacy of student education records. Key requirements for file sharing:
- Consent - schools generally need written consent before sharing student records with third parties
- Directory exception - basic directory information (name, address, phone) can be shared unless parents opt out
- Legitimate educational interest - school officials can share records with other officials who have a legitimate need
- Security - schools must protect student records from unauthorized access
- Access logs - schools must maintain a record of who accessed student records
How Schools Use EasySend for FERPA Alignment
Sharing Records Between Schools
When a student transfers, the receiving school needs records. Upload the student file at easysend.co with end-to-end encryption enabled. Share the link with the receiving school's registrar. Send the password via phone call. The 3-day auto-expiry ensures records do not persist on external servers.
Sharing with Parents
Parents have a right to access their child's records. Upload the relevant documents and share the link via the parent's preferred communication channel. No parent account needed. Password protection prevents unauthorized access if the link is forwarded.
IEP Document Distribution
Individualized Education Program documents contain sensitive information about student disabilities. Enable encryption and set a strong password. Share with the IEP team members who need access. Download notifications confirm who accessed the documents.
Why EasySend Helps with FERPA
- Zero-knowledge encryption - the server cannot read student records. How it works
- No student accounts created - no additional student data is collected by the sharing service
- Auto-expiry - records auto-delete after 3 days, limiting data persistence on external systems
- Download tracking - know when records were accessed, supporting audit requirements
- No advertising trackers - EasySend does not profile users or serve ads
Important Notes
EasySend is not FERPA-certified (no file sharing service is "FERPA-certified" since FERPA certifies institutions, not tools). However, its encryption, access controls and data minimization features help schools align their file sharing practices with FERPA requirements.
Schools should consult their district's data privacy officer before implementing any new file sharing tool for student records. See the teacher guide and education industry page for general school file sharing workflows.
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