Secretary Spellings Announces New Guidance to Improve Emergency Preparedness in Schools

In the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy, President Bush asked Secretary Spellings, Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez to conduct a listening tour across the country with educators, first responders, parents and others to address concerns related to emergency preparedness and school safety.  Several recurring themes were heard across the country, including the need for additional guidance on the FERPA, the federal law that protects the privacy of students’ education records.

In response, the U.S. Department of Education developed three new guides: one for K-12 educators, one for higher education officials and one for parents.  The FERPA brochures for school officials include contact information for obtaining additional guidance and assistance.  Understanding the law empowers school officials to act quickly and decisively when problems arise.  These guides will further the collection of key emergency management resources available from the U.S. Department of Education to help schools and institutions of higher education plan for, respond to and recover from a serious incident.  The guides, accompanied by a letter and handout on emergency management resources, were sent today to schools, school boards, associations and others nationwide.

FERPA - Parents' Guide

FERPA - Elementary and Secondary

FERPA - Colleges and Universities