The intersection of health information privacy and educational data protection is governed by distinct federal regulations. One law, designed to protect the privacy of individuals’ health information, generally does not apply to records maintained by educational institutions that pertain directly to students. These student records, containing personally identifiable information, are instead primarily governed by another federal law.
This distinction ensures that educational institutions can effectively manage student data for academic and administrative purposes, such as tracking progress, providing support services, and managing disciplinary actions. Applying health information privacy regulations to these records would create significant operational hurdles for schools and universities, hindering their ability to fulfill their educational mission. Historically, the focus has been on allowing educational institutions to operate efficiently while simultaneously protecting student privacy under specific legislative frameworks tailored to the educational context.
