Legal>Open Records

Open Records Information

Please note: This section is not intended to provide legal answers but rather to inform members so that they can raise concerns with TSTA’s Help Center at 877-ASK-TSTA (1-877-275-8782).

Open Records Policy: rights of requestors

You have the right to:

• Prompt access to information that is not confidential or otherwise protected;

• Receive treatment equal to all other requestors, including accommodation in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements;

• Receive certain kinds of information without exceptions, like the voting record of public officials, and other information;

• Receive a written statement of estimated charges, when charges will exceed $40, in advance of work being started and opportunity to modify the request in response to the itemized statement;

• Choose whether to inspect the requested information (most often at no charge), receive copies of the information or both;

• A waiver or reduction of charges if the school district determines that access to the information primarily benefits the general public;

• Receive a copy of the communication from the school district asking the Office of the Attorney General for a ruling on whether the information can be withheld under one of the accepted exceptions, or if the communication discloses the requested information, a redacted copy;

• Lodge a written complaint about overcharges for public information with the General Services Commission. Complaints of other possible violations may be filed with the county or district attorney of the county where the school district is located. 

Responsibilities of school districts

All school districts responding to information requests have the responsibility to:

• Establish reasonable procedures for inspecting or copying public information and inform requestors of these procedures;

• Treat all requestors uniformly and shall give to the requestor all reasonable comfort and facility, including accommodation in accordance with ADA requirements;

• Be informed about open records laws and educate employees on the requirements of those laws;

• Inform requestors of the estimated charges greater than $40 and any changes in the estimates above 20 percent of the original estimate, and confirm that the requestor accepts the charges, or has amended the request, in writing before finalizing the request;

• Inform the requestor if the information cannot be provided promptly and set a date and time to provide it within a reasonable time;

• Request a ruling from the Office of the Attorney General regarding any information the school district wishes to withhold, and send a copy of the request for ruling, or a redacted copy, to the requestor;

• Segregate public information from information that may be withheld and provide that public information promptly;

• Make a good faith attempt to inform third parties when their proprietary information is being requested from the school district;

• Respond in writing to all written communications from the General Services Commission regarding charges for the information. Respond to the Attorney General regarding complaints about violations of the Act.

Procedures to obtain information

• Submit a written request by mail, fax, email or in person according to a school district's reasonable procedures.

• Include enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the school district to accurately identify and locate the information requested.

• Cooperate with the school district's reasonable efforts to clarify the type or amount of information requested.

Information that may be released

• You may review the information promptly. If the information cannot be produced within ten (10) working days, the public information officer will notify you in writing of the reasonable date and time when it will be available.

• Keep all appointments to inspect records and to pick up copies. Failure to keep appointments may result in losing the opportunity to inspect the information at the time requested.

Information that must be withheld due to an exception

• By 10th business day after a school district receives your written request, a school district must:

  1. request an Attorney General opinion and state which exceptions apply;

  2. notify the requestor of the referral to the Attorney General; and

  3. notify third parties if the request involves their proprietary information.

• Failure to request an Attorney General opinion and notify the requestor within ten (10) business days will result in a presumption that the information is open unless there is a compelling reason to withhold it.

• Requestors may send a letter to the Attorney General arguing for release, and may review arguments made by the school district. If the arguments disclose the requested information, the requestor may obtain a redacted copy.

• The Attorney General must issue a decision no later than the 45th working day from the day the attorney general received the request. The Attorney General may request an additional ten (10) working days.

• School districts may not ask the Attorney General to "reconsider" an opinion.

Cost of records

• You must respond to any written estimate of charges within 10 days of the date the school district sent it or the request is considered automatically withdrawn.

• If estimated costs exceed $100.00 (or $50.00 if a school district has fewer than 16 full time employees) the school district may require a bond, prepayment or deposit. You may ask the school district to determine whether providing the information primarily benefits the general public, resulting in a waiver or reduction of charges.

• Make a timely payment for all mutually agreed charges. A school district can demand payment of overdue balances exceeding $100.00, or obtain a security deposit, before processing additional requests

• Contact your local county or district attorney

• You can also contact the Office of the Attorney General Open Records Hotline at (512) 478-6736 or toll free at (877) 673-6839

• For complaints regarding overcharges, please contact the General Services Commission at (512) 475-2497

• Call the TSTA Help Center, 877-ASK-TSTA, for help