Navigating HIPAA and FERPA in a school-based health center
July 2026
Information sharing between school districts and their school-based health center (SBHC) partners is a critical component of any SBHC partnership. To support students effectively, school districts and SBHCs must work together across both the education and healthcare systems while navigating two distinct federal privacy laws: the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
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Understanding how these federal laws apply and interact within an SBHC partnership enables SBHCs and school districts to better serve students through strong care coordination and supports to improve health, wellbeing, and academic success. This resource provides an overview of FERPA and HIPAA and outlines practical strategies that can guide partners in navigating federal privacy laws to facilitate information sharing and strengthen cross-sector collaboration.
Disclaimer: This resource does not act as a legal document or contain legal advice. Please consult with your legal counsel on legal matters. The Ohio School-Based Health Alliance does not endorse any specific example linked or provided in this document.
From the guide
To support strong SBHC partnerships, it is important to establish clear practices and shared expectations for how data and information will be exchanged, protected, used, and disclosed in compliance with FERPA, HIPAA, and other federal and state privacy laws.
Information-sharing agreements help establish the structure, expectations, and processes for how information may be shared between school districts and SBHC operators. However, these agreements alone do not authorize the disclosure of protected health information under HIPAA or student education information under FERPA between partners.
One of the powers of the SBHC model is its ability to bridge healthcare and education systems to better support students. Clear and collaborative information-sharing can help strengthen coordination between systems and improve outcomes for students, families, and the school community
Additional resources
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HIPAA, FERPA, and School Health: Confidentiality and Information Sharing in School-Based Health Care School-Based Health Alliance
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A California Guide for Sharing Student Health and Education Information California School-Based Health Alliance