How should paraprofessionals handle confidentiality?

The appropriate way for paraprofessionals to handle confidentiality is by protecting student information and discussing it solely with authorized personnel. This approach ensures that sensitive data remains private, in compliance with laws such as FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), which safeguards the privacy of student education records.

Maintaining confidentiality is crucial for fostering trust between students, families, and educational staff. By only sharing information with those who have the right to know, such as teachers and school administrators, paraprofessionals help create a safe environment conducive to learning.

In contrast, discussing student information broadly or sharing it with the community undermines this trust and could potentially violate confidentiality policies. Forgetting about student information quickly does not address the need for careful handling of sensitive data, and discussing it with everyone directly contradicts the principles of confidentiality. Thus, protecting student information and sharing it strategically with authorized personnel aligns with best practices in educational settings.