Which federal law, regulation, or standard applicable to the instructor protects the privacy of student education reports?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is the correct answer because this federal law specifically safeguards the privacy of student education records. FERPA grants parents the right to access their children's educational records, the right to request the correction of inaccurate records, and the right to limit the disclosure of personally identifiable information from these records. It establishes guidelines for the management of student records, ensuring that educational institutions protect student information from unauthorized access.

The other laws mentioned, while related to education and student rights, do not primarily focus on the privacy of student education records in the same way that FERPA does. The Education Amendments of 1972 includes various provisions related to education, including Title IX, but it is not specifically designed for record privacy. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) focuses on the educational rights of students with disabilities, ensuring they receive appropriate accommodations and services in their education, rather than on privacy per se. The Student Privacy Act (SPA) might address some elements of privacy but is not as comprehensive or widely recognized as FERPA when it comes to student education records.