Free CPD-Accredited Intermediate Certificate Course Gives Education Professionals the Practical Knowledge to Navigate FERPA Compliance with Confidence
Alison has launched a new CPD-accredited certificate course: Understanding the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. This free intermediate-level online programme covers the full scope of FERPA compliance — what the law protects, who it applies to, what rights students and parents hold, when disclosure is and is not permitted, how access and amendment processes work, and what consequences institutions face for violations — giving learners the grounding to handle student records lawfully and consistently.
The course was reviewed by Shawn Childs, a legal compliance consultant and legal researcher with over fifteen years of experience reviewing legal, regulatory, and compliance-focused content across business, educational, startup, and nonprofit contexts. Shawn's expertise spans legal writing, policy analysis, regulatory compliance, contract review, and instructional content development, with a focus on making complex legal concepts accessible and actionable for adult learners. That focus shaped the course's approach: rigorous in its legal accuracy, practical in how it applies the law to real educational settings.
A Law That Touches Every School in America
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act has governed the handling of student education records in the United States since 1974. It applies to virtually every educational institution that receives federal Department of Education funding — from elementary schools to community colleges to major research universities — making FERPA one of the most widely applicable privacy compliance obligations in the country. Tens of millions of student records are covered. Hundreds of thousands of educators, administrators, registrars, counsellors, coaches, and support staff are subject to its requirements.
The law is also genuinely complex. FERPA distinguishes between protected education records and directory information that institutions may choose to disclose. It grants students — and parents of students under 18 — specific rights to inspect records, challenge inaccuracies, and control disclosure. It establishes consent as the general rule for sharing records, then lists a series of exceptions for school officials with legitimate educational interest, health and safety emergencies, law enforcement purposes, judicial orders, and other specified circumstances. Each of those exceptions has its own conditions and limits.
For the people responsible for implementing FERPA compliance day-to-day — the administrator fielding a parent's request to see a record, the registrar deciding whether a particular disclosure requires consent, the teacher uncertain whether sharing a student's information with another staff member is permissible — the law's nuances are not abstract. Getting them wrong results in privacy violations that harm students and, in serious or repeated cases, can trigger federal enforcement action including the loss of institutional funding.
Making Compliance Practical
Shawn Childs brings the perspective of someone who has spent over a decade helping organisations understand and apply legal requirements in plain, workable terms: "Legal education should be practical, accurate, and easy to understand. This course provides learners with a strong foundation in FERPA by breaking down complex legal requirements into clear, real-world guidance that can be applied with confidence."
Mike Feerick, Founder and CEO of Alison, added: "Student privacy is a right — not a compliance checkbox — and the educators and administrators responsible for protecting it deserve training that makes the law genuinely understandable. This course delivers exactly that, and makes it freely available to anyone who needs it."
This launch strengthens Alison's legal compliance and education portfolio, reinforcing its mission to put rigorous, professional-quality learning within reach of every learner, everywhere.
To learn more or enrol in the course, visit: alison.com/course/understanding-the-family-educational-rights-and-privacy-act
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About Alison
Alison is a global leader in free online learning and skills development. With over 50 million registered learners across 193 countries (as of October 2025), Alison empowers individuals, communities, and organisations to upskill quickly and effectively – at zero cost.
The Alison platform provides immediate access to over 6,000 free, CPD-accredited courses, covering essential areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, Project Management, Business Operations, Healthcare and Sustainability. Courses are created by a mix of independent experts and global leaders, including IBM, Stanford and Microsoft.
For organisations, Alison offers a Free Learning Management System (LMS) that enables unlimited learners to access thousands of courses with no upfront cost. A premium version with advanced analytics and customisation is also available. Alison's offering includes a full suite of assessments and psychometric tools, including a Workplace Personality Assessment, Mental Health & Wellbeing Assessment, English Language Proficiency Test, as well as Numerical, Verbal, and Abstract Reasoning tests.
To further support career development, learners also gain access to a Career Guide, a Resumé Builder, and the ability to study offline through the Alison App. The platform is also expanding its reach with multilingual versions, starting with complete Spanish, French, and Hindi offerings — reaffirming its mission to make education accessible to anyone, anywhere.
Founded in 2007, Alison pioneered the concept of free, large-scale online learning and is recognised as the world’s first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform. Today, its mission continues: to break down barriers to learning, helping people gain skills, build confidence, and improve their lives — no matter where they live or what they earn.
