Protecting Student Privacy Act

Key Points

• This bill would block the government from using FAFSA data to locate, arrest, or deport people. Personal information submitted by students and their families for financial aid could not be shared with immigration enforcement agencies.
• The protections cover students and anyone else whose financial details appear on a FAFSA form, including parents and spouses. This means family members who help with applications would also be shielded from having their data used for immigration purposes.
• FAFSA data could only be shared in two narrow situations: when a court orders it in connection with a criminal case, or when a student or family member voluntarily agrees. Importantly, the bill makes it illegal for agencies to pressure or coerce someone into giving consent.
• If FAFSA information is improperly disclosed, the Secretary of Education must report the incident to Congress, explaining what happened, what data was shared, and what steps were taken to fix it.
• The bill would override any conflicting federal, state, or local law that currently allows sharing FAFSA data with immigration agencies, establishing this privacy protection as the controlling standard.