In an effort to strengthen  federal student privacy policy and keep student records secure, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) has introduced the Protecting Education Privacy Act (PEPA) which would enhance protections for students by rolling back regulatory changes made by the administration to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
 
“During the past few years Americans have been overwhelmed with news about government agencies invading their personal information,” Luetkemeyer said. “My legislation will keep parents’ minds at ease because they will have the ultimate control over whether or not third parties can access their children’s information.”

In December, 2011, the Department of Education made significant changes to regulations to FERPA that diminished the privacy protections of the law and opened up access to student records to new entities that were never intended to have access. These records include private information ranging from test scores, attendance records, social security numbers, and sensitive health information.

Luetkemeyer’s legislation would empower parents by giving them more control over who has access to their child’s information; ensure that any entity deemed as an “Authorized Representative” of an education agency with access to student records must be under the direct control of the agency; and create a prohibition on the use of student records for commercial purposes.