Definition

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act - federal law protecting student privacy that professors constantly violate by accident. It's why you can't discuss a student's grade with their parent even when said parent is paying tuition.

Example Usage

I can't tell you how your daughter is doing in my class due to FERPA, even though she's 18 and you're paying $60,000 a year.

Origin

U.S. federal legislation enacted in 1974

Fun Fact

FERPA violations can result in institutions losing all federal funding, yet many faculty remain blissfully ignorant of its requirements until they accidentally email everyone's grades to the entire class

Source: U.S. educational law and policy

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