An educational record under FERPA is any record that is directly related to a student and maintained by a school or a party acting for the school.

Direct answer

A classic example of an educational record according to FERPA is:

  • A student’s transcript showing courses taken and grades earned.

Other common examples (that would be “the right choice” in a multiple‑choice question) include:

  • Grade reports or report cards maintained by the school.
  • Class schedule or enrollment records held by the institution.
  • Disciplinary records such as suspension or conduct reports.
  • Financial aid records (e.g., loan and scholarship files).

By contrast, things like a teacher’s private notes not shared with others or law‑enforcement unit records kept by campus police are generally not considered educational records under FERPA.