Student Data Privacy (FERPA)
How Vidaara supports schools in meeting their obligations under the US Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
FERPA and Vidaara
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records in the United States. When a US school or district uses Vidaara with its students, we act as a "school official" with a legitimate educational interest, under the school's direction and control. We handle student data only to provide the educational service the school has asked for.
How we support compliance
- School control. The school determines what student data is collected and directs how it's used within Vidaara.
- Limited use. We use student education records solely to deliver the service — never to advertise to students or to build commercial profiles.
- No sale of data. We never sell student personal information.
- Access & correction. We help schools respond to parent and eligible-student requests to review or correct records.
- Security. Student data is encrypted in transit and access is restricted to staff who need it.
- Deletion. On the school's instruction or at the end of an engagement, we delete or return student data.
Directory information and consent
Schools remain responsible for obtaining any consent FERPA requires and for designating directory information. Where a school provides consent on behalf of parents for classroom use of Vidaara by students under 13, we also rely on that authorisation under COPPA.
Data processing agreements
We're glad to enter into a data processing or student data privacy agreement with your school or district. To request one, or to ask any FERPA question, contact our schools team at contact@vidaara.org or via the For Schools page.