Which of the following is explicitly excluded from the definition of educational records under FERPA?

The correct choice is anecdotal notes, as these are specifically excluded from the definition of educational records under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Educational records are generally defined as records that are directly related to a student and maintained by an educational institution. This includes items such as report cards, which provide a formal account of a student's academic performance, Individualized Education Program (IEP) documents, which outline the educational needs and plans for students with disabilities, and meeting minutes that capture formal discussions regarding a student's education.

Anecdotal notes, on the other hand, are often informal observations or summaries of a student's behavior or performance that are not maintained as part of the official educational record. They are intended for internal use by educators and do not typically relate directly to an individual student’s academic progress or status in the same formal manner as the other items listed. As such, they do not fall under the protections and requirements set forth by FERPA regarding educational records. This distinction is important for educators to understand, as it affects how they document and share information about student performance and behavior.