Which practice most supports privacy and confidentiality in school counseling?

• A. Discussing confidential information openly in staff meetings
• B. Sharing student data publicly to demonstrate transparency
• C. Violating FERPA by distributing records to unauthorized individuals
• D. Limiting disclosure in accordance with privacy laws and maintaining secure records

Answer: (D)

Protecting privacy and confidentiality in school counseling means ensuring information is shared only when necessary and kept secure. The best practice is to limit disclosure in line with privacy laws and maintain secure records. Laws like FERPA govern who can access a student’s education information and under what circumstances, so sharing should be on a need‑to‑know basis and with proper consent or legal justification. Keeping records secure—using locked files, password protections, and controlled access—prevents unauthorized viewing. This combination helps students feel safe to share sensitive information, which is essential for effective counseling. Sharing confidential details openly with staff, publicly distributing data, or giving records to unauthorized individuals would violate privacy and is not appropriate.