professionals who are certified, credentialed, or licensed in compliance with applicable Federal and State law and regulations by the State involved and who are practicing within their area of expertise. (K) Students will be permitted to self-refer to the mental health program for mental health care and self-consent for mental health crisis care to the extent permitted by State or other applicable law. (3) Coordinator Any entity that is a member of a partnership described in paragraph (1)(A) may serve as the coordinator of funding and activities under the grant if all members of the partnership agree. (4) Compliance with HIPAA A grantee under this section shall be deemed to be a covered entity for purposes of compliance with the regulations promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 with respect to any patient records developed through activities under the grant. (5) Compliance with FERPA Section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 ) shall apply to any entity that is a member of the partnership in the same manner that such section applies to an educational agency or institution (as that term is defined in such section). (d) Priority for schools with high poverty levels In awarding grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements under this section, the Secretary shall give highest priority to eligible entities that are partnerships including one or more public elementary or secondary schools in which 50.1 percent or more of the students are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. (e) Geographical distribution The Secretary shall ensure that grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under subsection (a) will be distributed equitably among the regions of the country and among urban and rural areas. (f) Duration of awards With respect to a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under subsection (a), the period during