Why Privacy Matters in Special Education: The Expert IEP Promise
Sep 3, 2025
Antoinette Banks
When a family shares an IEP with us, they’re not just uploading a document. They’re entrusting us with their child’s story — their struggles, their strengths, their hopes for the future. At Expert IEP, we believe protecting that story is just as important as clarifying it. Privacy isn’t paperwork. Privacy is power.
Families deserve clarity and safety
The IEP process is already overwhelming: dense language, deficit framing, confusing goals. Families come to us because they need clarity. But clarity means nothing if parents don’t feel their data is safe. That’s why our promise is twofold:
We make IEPs understandable — translating them into clear, strengths-based plans that empower families.
We keep IEPs protected — applying healthcare-level security to educational records so families never have to trade trust for access.
What protections do families have?
Education data is governed by a law called FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). Children under 13 also fall under COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act). Medical data is usually covered by HIPAA, though schools aren’t considered healthcare providers.
Here’s what that alphabet soup means in practice at Expert IEP:
FERPA-Compliant — We only use records for their intended purpose: helping families understand and advocate. Families can access or delete their data at any time.
COPPA-Aligned — Children never create accounts. Parents give consent for all data shared.
HIPAA-Level Safeguards — Even though schools aren’t covered by HIPAA, we voluntarily apply the same protections: bank-grade encryption, multi-factor authentication, and ongoing security audits.
What we never do
We never sell or share family data without consent.
We never use student information to build advertising or tracking profiles.
We never keep records once a family asks us to delete them.
Why this matters now
Too often, families have had to fight for services and for trust. During past administrations, federal oversight of special education weakened, leaving many parents skeptical that the system can ever deliver. At the same time, new technologies raise fears about surveillance and misuse of student data.
Expert IEP exists to flip that script. We don’t see privacy as a barrier to innovation — we see it as the foundation of equity. Protecting family data isn’t a compliance checkbox. It’s how we honor the decades-long struggle of parents who demanded their children be seen, heard, and educated with dignity.
Our promise
Every student with an IEP has two stories: the one written in their records, and the one their family is still writing about their dreams. We promise to keep both stories safe. Because when families know their data is protected, they can focus on what matters most: helping their children thrive.
Learn more in our Privacy Policy and Family Privacy Promise
