Which action is likely a violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)?

Sharing educational data with a commercial entity constitutes a likely violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) because FERPA is designed to protect the privacy of students' education records. Under FERPA, educational institutions must obtain written consent from parents or eligible students (those over 18) before disclosing personally identifiable information from a student’s education records to third parties, including commercial entities.

Commercial entities may use such data for purposes that are not in alignment with the educational interests of the students, which raises concerns about confidentiality and the proper use of educational data. The essence of FERPA is to ensure that students' education records are not misused or improperly disclosed, and sharing data with profit-driven organizations can violate these protections.

In contrast, the other actions listed may not necessarily breach FERPA's requirements under certain conditions. For example, publishing student names in newsletters could be permissible if the school obtains consent from the parents or students, and using student work in promotional materials may also be allowed if there is prior consent. Registering students for afterschool programs is typically part of the school’s routine operations and doesn't inherently risk privacy violations if done following FERPA guidelines.