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Freedom of Information Act › Public Schools

The Freedom of Information Act is a United States federal statute enacted in 1966 to promote government transparency and the free exchange of public information. Under FOIA, any individual can request federal... more +
The Freedom of Information Act is a United States federal statute enacted in 1966 to promote government transparency and the free exchange of public information. Under FOIA, any individual can request federal agency records and enforce that right in a court of law. However, not all agency records can be requested; there are nine exempt categories of information. In addition to the federal law, many states have passed their own freedom of information acts. These acts are often similar but not always identical to the federal version.  less -
Pullman & Comley - School Law

Developments from the 2022 Session of the Connecticut General Assembly Affecting Public Schools

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The 2022 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly concluded on May 4, 2022. The following is a brief description of acts that were passed by the General Assembly that may be of interest to Connecticut’s K-12...more

Franczek P.C.

First Quarter 2021 Illinois FOIA & OMA Update

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PRE-DECISIONAL & DELIBERATIVE PROCESS UPDATES U.S. - SUPREME COURT DECISION - On March 4, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in United States Fish and Wildlife Service v. Sierra Club addressing the “deliberative...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

How Should Arkansas Schools Handle Parent Demands for Emails About Students? Navigating FERPA & FOIA.

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Arkansas schools often face parent requests to see all the school’s documents and emails about their child. Schools may wonder whether a parent has a right to such sweeping information. Federal law gives parents the right...more

Clark Hill PLC

Education Records Are Subject to FOIA Requests

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In an unpublished decision, on December 17, 2019, the Michigan Court of Appeals issued an opinion that education records are subject to disclosure under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) with redaction of...more

Pullman & Comley - School Law

Student E-Mails, FERPA and FOIA: What School Districts Must Disclose (and When)?

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Among other things, the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) grants parents access to educational and related records concerning their child. Under FERPA, “education records” are broadly defined as...more

Pullman & Comley, LLC

ALERT - CT Legislative Update

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The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly passed bills that, among other things: (1) revise the Student Data Privacy Act; (2) address budgetary issues stemming from attempts at reducing and rescinding...more

Franczek P.C.

2015 Legislative Update: Summary Of Changes In School Law

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ADMINISTRATION - LALI’S LAW (HEROIN CRISIS ACT) - Public Act 99-0480 - Effective Date: September 9, 2015 - School districts, public schools, or nonpublic schools may now authorize a school nurse or trained...more

Pullman & Comley - School Law

Everything That You Ever Wanted to Know About The Attorney-Client Privilege and The FOIA But Were Afraid to Ask: The Latest

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As a self-described FOIA nerd, I have written in these pages about issues pertaining to the effect of the Freedom of Information Act [“FOIA”] on the attorney-client privilege (and vice versa). In a plethora of recent...more

Franczek P.C.

PAC Upholds School District’s Decision to Deny FOIA Request for Text Messages

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Last month, the Public Access Counselor released a decision on the subject of when text messages can be obtained from a public body through a FOIA request. The decision was non-binding, but nonetheless illustrates that absent...more

Pullman & Comley - School Law

Let’s Go To The Videotape: Can School Security Videos Be Subject To Disclosure Under FOIA?

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School districts usually deny requests to view school video recordings, such as security tapes, in light of concerns about the privacy rights of students featured on these recordings. In a recent decision, the Freedom of...more

Pullman & Comley, LLC

How to Respond to FOIA Requests For Overall Teacher Summative Ratings?

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It has come to our attention that certain school districts in Connecticut have already received requests under the Freedom of Information Act [“FOIA”] for access to overall district and school level summative ratings of all...more

Pullman & Comley - School Law

School District’s Refusal to Release Bullying Investigation Report Upheld

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While the Freedom of Information Act [“FOIA”] generally seeks to provide access to records created by public agencies, and while anti-bullying laws require that parents be notified by a school district with regard to the...more

Franczek P.C.

Key Takeaways From Recent FOIA And OMA Decisions

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The Illinois courts and the Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor (“PAC”) issued a flurry of decisions in May and June relating to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) and the Illinois Open Meetings Act...more

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