Anyone can request information from any public agency. Some states have laws they use instead of the federal law (something my supt pointed out-rather sarcastically i might add). Here is the law:
http://www.usdoj.gov/oip/foia_updates/Vol_XVII_4/page2.htm ...
http://www.usdoj.gov/foia/
This is the form I found at:
http://www.education-rights.org/template.htm
also has other information on what to request ect.
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TO: FOIA Office, [Agency]
RE: FOIA request # xxxxxxxxxxxx (please refer to this number in correspondence concerning this request)
FROM: ["Requestor" <requestor@domain>]
Request for disclosure of records. This letter is a request for records under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 USC 552. Records which are the subject of this request are:
Form of disclosure. In accordance with 5 USC 552 (a)(3)(B), please provide the requested material in electronic form, in Portable Document Format (PDF) or text or HTML , on a site accessible via File Transfer Protocol or Hypertext Transfer Protocol via the Internet, or on IBM-formatted 3.5" disk media, or as files attached to email messages addressed to me at the address given above.
Exemptions and redactions. If there are any portions of the requested material which your agency considers exempt from disclosure, please provide the portion which is not exempt, as required under 5 USC 552 (b); also, please indicate on the released portion the amount which has been deleted and the place(s) from which it has been deleted.
Waiver of fee. Please note that I claim entitlement to waiver or reduction of fee under 5 USC 552 (a)(4)(A)(iii) because the disclosure of this information is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and because the disclosure is not primarily in my commercial interest. Disclosure of this information will be primarily through Internet websites (e.g., "
http://www.education-rights.org/") and Internet mailing lists.
Likelihood of subsequent requests. Because of the likelihood that the records I am requesting will be the subject of subsequent requests, please comply with 5 USC 552 (a)(2)(D) by making them available for public inspection in electronic form. As part of your disclosure to me, please tell me how many requests you have received for any of the records I am requesting.
Thank you for your assistance.
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This is what i sent:
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Freedom of Information Act - Request for Information
TO: Morton School District
P.O.Box H
Morton, WA 98356
RE: FOIA request # 2001-8-10-01(please refer to this number in correspondence concerning this request)
FROM: Cheryl Blanchard [mossyforrest@lewiscounty.com]
Request for disclosure of records. This letter is a request for records under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 USC 552. Records which are the subject of this request are:
1. District policies on evaluation, placement criteria, IEPs, discipline,
behavior, manifestation procedures, procedural safeguards, etc.
2. Approved sped curricula from 1999 to present
3. School district income and expense reports for the 1999/2000 and 2000/2001
school years
4. Outside independent certified public audit pursuant to the Federal Single Audit Act.
5. Consultant's report(s) related to special education.
Form of disclosure. In accordance with 5 USC 552 (a)(3)(B), please provide the requested material in electronic form, in Portable Document Format (PDF) or text or HTML or as files attached to email messages addressed to me at the address given above.
Exemptions and redactions. If there are any portions of the requested material which your agency considers exempt from disclosure, please provide the portion which is not exempt, as required under 5 USC 552 (b); also, please indicate on the released portion the amount which has been deleted and the place(s) from which it has been deleted.
Thank you for your assistance.
I signed it with my name and address...
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They wouldnt put it in electronic form, and i had to pay $15 for copies...which the supt emailed me when they were ready and said i could pay with a money order. I emailed him back and said, " I really doubt you require people to pay everything with money orders and I think that not allowing me to pay by check is discrimination on your part." He sent back that a check was ok...lol
Texas DP hearings are bad...the judges almost always (as you have found) rule for the district. And they get overturned alot in district court when parents pursue it...and what of all the kids that their parents cant pursue it... sad to think about. They have a horrible rate of compliance...its really really sad.
