The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government. ED is required to disclose many types of information requested under the FOIA.
About FOIA
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552, was enacted in 1966 and generally provides that:
- Any person has the right to request access to federal agency records or information.
- All agencies of the U.S. Government are required to disclose records upon receiving a written request for them.
- There are nine exemptions to the FOIA that protect certain records from disclosure.
- There are FOIA Statutory Exclusions.
The federal FOIA does not provide access to records held by state or local government agencies, or by private businesses or individuals. Most states, and some local jurisdictions have their own laws about access to state and local records. State Education agencies should be contacted for further information about these statutes.
Before making a FOIA request, you should browse our FOIA Library and search the ED.gov website. Both contain many documents that are available to the public.
FOIA Library
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) makes certain types of records, created by the agency on or after November 1, 1996, available electronically on the Internet. The FOIA Library consists of:
Find answers to frequently asked questions about FOIA.
Use ED's FOIAxpress system to find the status of an existing FOIA request.
Annual reports detailing ED’s FOIA resources, activities, and processes.
ED FOIA Logs contain information about FOIA requests ED has received.
The Privacy Act of 1974 is a companion to FOIA.
Other FOIA information and resources from ED and other federal agencies.
Making a Request
Do you want to request information about the U.S. Department of Education?
This is a request that should be made under FOIA. You may be able to access the information you need on the Internet without making a FOIA request. Before making a FOIA request, you should browse our FOIA Library and search the ED.gov website.
Do you want to request information about yourself?
This is a request that should be made under the Privacy Act. Privacy Act requests can be made only by U.S. citizens or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent U.S. residence who are seeking information about themselves in a system of records maintained under their names or other personal identifiers.
Which Act should I use?
The access provisions of the FOIA and the Privacy Act overlap in part. The two laws have different procedures and different exemptions. As a result, sometimes information exempt under one law will be releasable under the other.
In order to take maximum advantage of the laws, individuals seeking information should ordinarily cite both laws. Requests by an individual for information that does not relate solely to him or herself should be made only under the FOIA.
ED will automatically handle requests from individuals in a way that will maximize the amount of information that is releasable. However, a requester should still make a request in a manner that is most advantageous and that fully protects all available legal rights. A requester who has any doubts about which law to use should always cite both the FOIA and the Privacy Act when seeking documents.
Contacts
The Office of the Secretary FOIA Service Center (FSC) advises the public and U.S. Department of Education (ED) employees regarding FOIA requests and ED information available to the public. As the lead organization for ED's FOIA Program, the FSC provides training for ED officials and guidance and support to the FOIA Coordinators and FOIA Review Officers in the Department's Principal Offices and 12 regional and field offices.
Send requests via email to: EDFOIAManager@ed.gov
Send requests via mail to:
U.S. Department of Education
Office of the Secretary
400 Maryland Ave., SW, LBJ 7W104
Washington, DC 20202-4500
Attn: FOIA Service Center
FOIA Service Center
(202) 401-8365
Chief FOIA Officer
(202) 401-8365
Deborah O. Moore, Ph.D.
FOIA Public Liaison and Director of Operations
(202) 205-0733
Robert Wehausen
Office for Civil Rights Field Office Directors
Region I - Boston
Joel Berner (617) 289-0111
Region II - New York
Timothy Blanchard (646) 428-3900
Region III - Philadelphia
Wendella Fox (215) 656-8541
Region IV - Atlanta
Deborah Floyd, Acting Regional Director (404) 562-6350
Region V - Chicago
Adele Rapport (312) 730-1560
Region VI - Dallas
Taylor August (214) 661-9600
Region VII - Kansas City
Bill Dittmeier (816) 268-0550
Region VIII - Denver
Aaron Romine (303) 844-5695
Region IX - San Francisco
Arthur Zeidman (415) 486-5555
Region X - Seattle
Monique M. Malson, Acting Director (206) 607-1600
Cleveland Office
Meena Morey Chandra (216) 522-4970
Metro Office
Alice Wender (202) 786-0500