09/03/2025
When it comes to privacy, it’s important to know which law protects your records—and your child’s. It’s equally important to understand who can access those records under each law.
Did you know that if your child receives mental health counseling at school from a district employee, their therapy records are covered by FERPA, not HIPAA? Under FERPA, school officials with a “legitimate educational interest” may access those records.
By contrast, HIPAA provides much stricter protections—therapy records cannot be shared without the patient’s (or parent’s) consent, except in rare situations such as court orders or immediate safety concerns.
So here’s the question: Wouldn’t you prefer your child’s most sensitive information to be protected by the stricter standard?
