Jeff's retrieval of Lisa's education records violates FERPA. Jeff's student employment at Acme allowed him access to Lisa's records, but his retrieval of that information was for purely personal reasons, and not for a legitimate educational interest.

Even though an employee or student may have the capability to access a student's education records--by means of a computer or through other ways--it is not necessarily legal to examine those records. School officials, teachers, and even student employees may access students' education records only to the extent necessary for them to do their jobs…in other words, only to meet "legitimate educational interests". What's more, although a person has legitimate access to a student's education records, that person may not use such information in a manner that is improper or otherwise violates a student's privacy interests.

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