What is the primary objective of **FERPA**?

**FERPA's primary objective is to protect the privacy of parents and students by regulating access to and disclosure of personally identifiable information (PII) in education records.** Enacted in 1974 as section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. § 1232g), with regulations at 34 CFR Part 99, it grants rights to inspect records within 45 days (§99.10), seek amendments for inaccurate/misleading content (§99.20), and control disclosures via written consent unless exceptions apply (§99.30).

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **FERPA**?

**FERPA requires compliance by educational agencies or institutions receiving funds under any program administered by the U.S. Secretary of Education.** This includes public K-12 districts, most postsecondary institutions via student aid like Pell Grants (§99.1(c)), and applies institution-wide to all components (§99.1(d)). Vendors acting as "school officials" under direct control are also bound (§99.31(a)(1)(i)(B)).

Does **FERPA** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**FERPA does not require external audits or third-party certification.** Compliance is demonstrated through internal policies, annual notifications (§99.7), disclosure recordkeeping (§99.32), and response to Department investigations by the Family Policy Compliance Office. Institutions must maintain auditable artifacts like logs and procedures.

How often should an assessment for **FERPA** be performed?

**FERPA mandates annual notification of rights to parents/eligible students (§99.7(a)), but does not specify assessment frequency.** Best practice involves periodic internal reviews of policies, access controls, vendor contracts, and disclosure logs, aligned with ongoing recordkeeping (§99.32) and preparation for complaints within 180 days (§99.64(c)).

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **FERPA**?

**Non-compliance with FERPA can result in Department enforcement actions including withholding federal funds, cease-and-desist orders, or termination of funding eligibility (§99.67(a)).** Third-party violators face five-year PII access bans (§99.67(c)-(e)); complaints trigger investigations with demands for policies and records (§99.62).

Can **FERPA** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**FERPA's core elements—PII protection, access rights, and consent-based disclosures—can align with frameworks like GDPR via data minimization and purpose limitation.** However, FERPA's funding-based enforcement and exceptions (e.g., school officials, §99.31) differ; mapping requires gap analysis for rights transfer (§99.5) and recordkeeping (§99.32).

What is the first step to begin implementing **FERPA**?

**The first step to implement FERPA is publishing an annual notification of rights (§99.7).** This must detail inspection procedures, amendment processes, consent rules, complaint filing with the Department, and—if used—criteria for school officials and legitimate educational interests (§99.7(a)(3)).

What is the primary objective of **BREEAM**?

**BREEAM's primary objective is to provide a science-based framework for assessing and certifying sustainability performance across the built environment lifecycle.** Developed by BRE in 1990, it uses a category-based structure—**Management, Health & Wellbeing, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Waste, Land Use & Ecology, Pollution, and Innovation**—with weighted credits converting performance into ratings from **Pass (≥30%)** to **Outstanding (≥85%)**. This enables measurable verification of environmental, social, and resilience outcomes for buildings, infrastructure, and communities.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **BREEAM**?

**No organizations are legally required to comply with BREEAM, as it is a voluntary certification scheme.** Professionally, it applies to developers, owners, and operators of new construction, refurbishments, in-use assets, communities, and infrastructure seeking third-party validated sustainability credentials. Licensed **BREEAM Assessors** and **Advisory Professionals (APs)** are mandatory for certification, with BRE Global conducting quality audits under UKAS ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation. National Scheme Operators in **Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden** adapt schemes locally.

Does **BREEAM** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**Yes, BREEAM mandates third-party certification via licensed Assessors and BRE Global quality audits.** Assessors compile evidence against scheme manuals and submit for BRE review, including potential site visits. Certification is issued only after QA verification, ensuring impartiality. **BREEAM In-Use** certifications are valid for **3 years**, requiring reassessment for renewal.

How often should an assessment for **BREEAM** be performed?

**BREEAM New Construction assessments occur once per project at design and post-construction stages.** For operational assets, **BREEAM In-Use** requires reassessment every **3 years** to maintain certification and verify ongoing performance. Post-occupancy evaluations (POE) are recommended continuously to address performance gaps, with Knowledge Base Compliance Notes (KBCNs) monitored for updates.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **BREEAM**?

**Non-compliance with BREEAM results in denied credits, lower ratings, or failed certification, with no direct legal penalties as it is voluntary.** Consequences include lost market premiums (e.g., up to 25% rental uplift), higher operational costs, regulatory/planning delays, and reduced ESG credibility for investors. Projects may face rework or ineligibility for green finance aligned with EU Taxonomy.

Can **BREEAM** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**BREEAM does not officially map to other frameworks within its standalone certification process.** However, Version 7 aligns criteria with **EU Taxonomy** for whole-life carbon, net-zero strategies, biodiversity, and resilience. BRE technical manuals and KBCNs reference external standards like **ISO 7730** (thermal comfort) and **ISO/IEC 17025** (emissions testing), enabling practical integration without formal equivalency.

What is the first step to begin implementing **BREEAM**?

**The first step is to select the appropriate scheme (e.g., New Construction, In-Use) and version, then appoint a licensed BREEAM Assessor early at project inception.** Register the project with BRE, conduct a pre-assessment for credit targeting, and embed requirements into design, procurement, and governance. BRE Academy training for APs supports this.

FERPA vs BREEAM

Standards Comparison

FERPA

Mandatory

1974

U.S. federal regulation protecting student education records privacy

BREEAM

Voluntary

1990

Global sustainability certification for built environment

Quick Verdict

FERPA mandates student data privacy for US schools, ensuring access and consent rights to protect PII and avoid funding loss. BREEAM voluntarily certifies sustainable buildings worldwide, driving energy efficiency and health benefits for market value and ESG gains.

Student Privacy

FERPA

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974

Cost

€€€

Complexity

Medium

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Grants rights to inspect, amend, and consent to disclosures
Expansive PII definition including linkable indirect identifiers
Enumerated exceptions for school officials and emergencies
Mandates 45-day access response and annual notifications
Requires detailed disclosure logging and recordkeeping

Building Sustainability

BREEAM

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method

Cost

€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

Credit-based weighted scoring across 10 categories
Third-party certification by licensed assessors
Scheme-specific for new build, in-use, infrastructure
Evidence-driven with KBCN updates and audits
Whole-life carbon and biodiversity net gain focus

Detailed Analysis

A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

FERPA Details

What It Is

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 U.S.C. §1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a U.S. federal regulation establishing privacy protections for student education records in institutions receiving federal funds. Its primary purpose is granting parents and eligible students (age 18+ or postsecondary) rights to access, amend, and control disclosures of personally identifiable information (PII). It uses a rights-based approach with consent requirements and enumerated exceptions.

Key Components

Core rights: inspect/review (45 days), amend inaccurate records, consent to disclosures.
Definitions: broad education records and PII (direct/indirect identifiers).
Exceptions: school officials with legitimate educational interests, emergencies, directory info.
Obligations: annual notices, disclosure logs, vendor controls. No certification; enforced via complaints and funding penalties.

Why Organizations Use It

Mandatory for federally funded schools to avoid funding loss and lawsuits. Enhances trust, enables safe data sharing, supports operations like transfers and audits. Builds reputation and aligns with state privacy laws.

Implementation Overview

Phased program: governance, data inventory, policies/training, technical controls (RBAC, logging), vendor DPAs. Applies to K-12/postsecondary; scalable by size. Focuses on operational processes over certification.

BREEAM Details

What It Is

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a science-led sustainability certification framework for the built environment. Launched in 1990 by BRE, it assesses environmental, social, and resilience performance across buildings, infrastructure, and communities. Its credit-based methodology evaluates performance through weighted categories, yielding ratings from Pass to Outstanding.

Key Components

Ten core categories: Management, Health & Wellbeing, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Waste, Land Use & Ecology, Pollution, Innovation.
Hundreds of credits with prerequisites, evidence requirements, and weightings.
Built on third-party assurance via licensed assessors and BRE audits.
Certification model includes scheme-specific manuals and ongoing KBCNs.

Why Organizations Use It

Drives ESG compliance, net-zero alignment, and EU Taxonomy support.
Reduces operational costs (e.g., 22-33% energy savings) and boosts asset value (up to 30% premiums).
Mitigates regulatory, financial, and reputational risks.
Enhances market differentiation and tenant appeal.

Implementation Overview

Phased approach: pre-assessment, design integration, construction evidence, certification.
Requires early assessor/AP appointment, evidence management, training.
Applicable globally across asset types/sizes; BRE audits ensure validity.

Key Differences

Aspect	FERPA	BREEAM
Scope	Student education records privacy and access rights	Building sustainability, health, environmental performance
Industry	US education institutions receiving federal funds	Global construction, real estate, infrastructure projects
Nature	Mandatory US federal regulation for funded entities	Voluntary third-party certification standard
Testing	Complaint investigations by Dept of Education	Licensed assessor audits and BRE quality assurance
Penalties	Federal funding withholding, enforcement actions	Loss of certification, no legal penalties

Scope

FERPA

Student education records privacy and access rights

BREEAM

Building sustainability, health, environmental performance

Industry

FERPA

US education institutions receiving federal funds

BREEAM

Global construction, real estate, infrastructure projects

Nature

FERPA

Mandatory US federal regulation for funded entities

BREEAM

Voluntary third-party certification standard

Testing

FERPA

Complaint investigations by Dept of Education

BREEAM

Licensed assessor audits and BRE quality assurance

Penalties

FERPA

Federal funding withholding, enforcement actions

BREEAM

Loss of certification, no legal penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about FERPA and BREEAM

FERPA FAQ

BREEAM FAQ

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FERPA

BREEAM

Quick Verdict

FERPA

Key Features

BREEAM

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

FERPA Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

BREEAM Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

FERPA FAQ

What is the primary objective of FERPA?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with FERPA?

Does FERPA require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for FERPA be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with FERPA?

Can FERPA be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing FERPA?

BREEAM FAQ

What is the primary objective of BREEAM?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with BREEAM?

Does BREEAM require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for BREEAM be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with BREEAM?

Can BREEAM be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing BREEAM?

You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

Real-World ISO 27701 Success: Synthesized Case Studies, Metrics, and Lessons for Privacy Resilience

Using CIS Controls v8.1 as a ‘Compliance On-Ramp’: Map One Security Program to NIST CSF, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and NIS2

Beyond the Boardroom: 5 Ways Modern Compliance Software Elevates Every Department

Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages

OSHA vs ISO 27018

WCAG vs CIS Controls

Australian Privacy Act vs ISO 27017