Public Information is the initial contact point for members of the news media needing information about South Carolina's public school system. Public Affairs also responds to questions from parents, educators, and the general public, including requests for information through the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), we have 10 business days within which to inform you of the availability of the non-exempt “public records” that you have requested and to provide a time and cost estimate to provide those public records to you.

Please note that it is against South Carolina law to obtain or use public records for commercial solicitation. S.C. Code Ann. § 30-2-50. There are penalties involved for noncompliance with the state’s prohibitions against using information secured through a FOIA records request for commercial solicitation. We do not guarantee that a records search will result in any responsive records being located.

We do not make public, and will not produce in response to your request, those records that may be exempted under state law, including, but not limited to, trade secrets, personal information of students or teachers, confidential proprietary information, privileged communications, or protected information. We do not provide personally identifiable student information. For a partial list of exemptions under the law, please see S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-40. Under South Carolina law, “Documents may be furnished when appropriate without charge or at a reduced charge where the agency determines that waiver or reduction of the fee is in the public interest because furnishing the information can be considered as primarily benefiting the general public.” The South Carolina Department of Education will make the final determination as to whether a request made under the Freedom of Information Act is one primarily benefiting the general public

Additionally, we abide by all laws and regulations pertaining to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and do not make public any records protected under these Acts.

Please note that it is against South Carolina law to obtain or use public records for commercial solicitation. Our ombudsman answers parent complaints.

Ombudsman

ESEA Flexibility

Profile of the Graduate (pdf)

Additional Resources & Information

Proviso 117.81 Fines and Fees Report (FY 2012-2013)
Proviso 89.85 Fines and Fees Report (FY 2011-12)
Proviso 89.92 Fines and Fees Report (FY 2010-11)
High School Exit Exam Elimination
New Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics