Final answer:
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is the federal mandate that protects the confidentiality of educational records for parents and students.
Step-by-step explanation:
The federal mandate that protects the confidentiality of educational records for parents and students is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). FERPA is a federal law that gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. It applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.