Under FERPA, which of the following categories is protected?

Under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), the category that is protected relates specifically to educational records and the privacy rights of students. Directory information refers to information contained in an education record that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. However, while it can be shared without consent, schools are required to inform parents and eligible students about their right to refuse the disclosure of directory information.

This means that the emphasis under FERPA is on how students' educational records are handled, which includes basic student information like names, addresses, phone numbers, and participation in school activities. Thus, even though directory information can be shared, it is still a category that falls under the broader framework of FERPA protections. Other choices, such as financial performance reports or public speech transcripts, do not relate to individual student educational records and therefore do not have the same privacy protections under FERPA.