Which law prohibits school social workers from sharing information with ICE?

• A. HIPAA
• B. Americans with Disabilities Act
• C. No Child Left Behind Act
• D. FERPA

Answer: (D)

The key idea is how student information is protected and who can access it. FERPA sets strict rules about sharing personally identifiable information from a student’s education records outside the school. In practice, this means schools can’t disclose that information to outside entities like ICE without either the student’s/parent’s consent or a valid exception under FERPA (for example, disclosures to school officials with a legitimate educational interest, to other schools during transfer, or in emergency situations or when a proper legal process is issued). So, sharing student records with ICE generally isn’t allowed unless a consent or a lawful exception applies.

HIPAA deals with health information held by health care providers and plans, not the standard education records in most school settings. The Americans with Disabilities Act focuses on protection from discrimination and accommodations, not on the routine privacy of education records. The No Child Left Behind Act centers on accountability and standards, not on governing the disclosure of student records.