Laverne (@scholarshipcollegemama), widely known for her expertise in scholarships and financial aid, is now considering legal action over what she claims is a major violation of student privacy rights.
In a bold Instagram video, she accused the Department of Education of allowing unauthorized access to student loan borrowers’ sensitive financial data, potentially violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
“I’m about to get all my loans forgiven. And so are you,” Laverne declared. “Whoever thought it was a good idea for Elon Musk to be at the Department of Education, locking the doors, running all around with access to my information—I feel violated.”
FERPA is a federal law protecting student education records, and Laverne believes that financial aid data—including that of borrowers’ children—was accessed without prior authorization.
She urged borrowers to take immediate action by filing complaints with the Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education’s Family Policy Compliance Office.
“I’m currently drafting a letter and filing a complaint,” she stated. “And I might start a lawsuit too.”
Laverne, who regularly shares scholarship tips and financial aid guidance with her followers, warned that potential FERPA violations include unauthorized access to records, failure to provide individuals with their own data, and breaches of protected student information.
Her call to action was clear: “Write your letter. File your complaint today.”
