What should a teacher do if a college student requests records of ESE students for a case study?

• A. Comply with the request if authorized by parents
• B. Provide the records only if the college student's supervisor approves
• C. Refuse the request on the grounds of FERPA
• D. Request the student to submit a formal application

Answer: (C)

Refusing the request based on FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) is the appropriate action in this situation. FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. It prohibits the disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records without the consent of the student or their parents.

In the case of ESE (Exceptional Student Education) students, their records often contain sensitive information that requires strict confidentiality protections. A teacher must ensure that the privacy rights of these students are upheld, which is why denying the request aligns with legal obligations under FERPA. While parental consent may allow for access under certain circumstances, simply being authorized by parents for the disclosure is not enough to overlook the broader confidentiality requirements mandated by FERPA.

The other options suggest processes that could potentially compromise student privacy or create unnecessary administrative hurdles, which don’t align with the principle of protecting sensitive student information. Therefore, denying the request serves not only to comply with the law but also to safeguard the dignity and rights of the students involved.