Public Records Requests

This presentation provides an overview of Florida's Public Records Act (Chapter 119, F.S.) and its application to charter schools, emphasizing that all materials—including emails, text messages, social media content, and potential AI prompts—created or received in connection with official business constitute public records subject to inspection and copying. It details specific exemptions, such as FERPA-protected student education records, active personnel investigation files, and security or fire safety plans, while highlighting that non-exempt items like draft documents circulated beyond the author must be disclosed. Finally, the guide outlines a structured, five-step response process—acknowledging requests immediately, assessing permissible fees, retrieving and redacting files, providing a final cost accounting, and delivering records within a reasonable timeframe—and advises charter school boards to establish clear public records policies and designate an official records custodian.