FERPA Compliance
ReachMyTeach is fully compliant with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA is the key federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Our platform ensures that all communications, data storage, and sharing of student information adhere to FERPA guidelines, safeguarding the confidentiality of education records and maintaining the trust of families and educators.
HIPAA Compliance and School Health Professionals
ReachMyTeach is not compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which mainly governs medical records and health information in healthcare settings rather than educational ones. However, it's important to note that most communication needs within schools, including those involving health professionals, do not require HIPAA compliance.
When Is HIPAA Necessary for Schools?
HIPAA compliance becomes necessary when educational institutions provide healthcare services and maintain health records in a manner that would classify them as healthcare providers under HIPAA. Examples include providing specialized medical treatment that goes beyond routine school healthcare or sharing health data electronically with health providers or insurers.
However, most health-related activities conducted by school health professionals—including school nurses and psychiatrists—fall under FERPA rather than HIPAA, as they are considered part of the educational environment. This means most communications involving health professionals at schools can safely be conducted through ReachMyTeach.
What Can School Nurses and Psychiatrists Share?
- Safe for ReachMyTeach:
- Routine communication about health matters, such as:
- Attendance issues related to health (e.g., needing to pick up a student due to illness)
- Medication reminders for students taking prescribed drugs during school hours
- Health screenings or policy updates (e.g., notifications about vaccinations, health programs)
- Mental health check-ins or wellness resources, especially when discussing general student well-being and guidance.
- Routine communication about health matters, such as:
- Not Recommended:
- Sharing specific medical diagnoses, treatment plans, or detailed mental health assessments involving sensitive health information is not recommended through ReachMyTeach. For example:
- Detailed diagnoses or treatment information related to specific medical or psychiatric conditions.
- Psychiatric evaluations that include protected health information or sensitive details.
- Sharing specific medical diagnoses, treatment plans, or detailed mental health assessments involving sensitive health information is not recommended through ReachMyTeach. For example:
Schools, Nurses, and Psychiatrists:
ReachMyTeach is designed to meet the needs of educational communication under FERPA regulations, allowing for secure and effective communication between school staff, health professionals, and families. For most school nurses and psychiatrists, this means that typical health-related messages (e.g., notifying parents about routine screenings, medication needs, or mental health tips) are entirely safe and compliant under FERPA. However, for messages involving detailed diagnoses, treatment information, or sensitive psychiatric assessments, it’s best to use a HIPAA-compliant platform.
If you have further questions about how to use ReachMyTeach for specific scenarios, please reach out to our support team for guidance!