Which is a key ethical consideration for confidentiality and parent rights in school psychology?

• A. Disclose information to media.
• B. Share information with all staff without consent.
• C. Protect student privacy, share information only with authorized personnel, obtain consent for disclosures, and follow FERPA/IDEA guidelines and district policies.
• D. Keep all information completely secret from parents.

Answer: (C)

Confidentiality and parent rights hinge on safeguarding student privacy and sharing information only with people who have a legitimate educational need to know. This means obtaining consent before disclosures and following FERPA, IDEA guidelines, and district policies to guide who can access records and under what circumstances. This approach protects students, supports accurate decision-making, and keeps families involved in their child’s education. Disclosing information to the media, sharing with all staff without consent, or keeping records completely secret from parents would violate these protections and undermine trust, legality, and collaborative planning.