What is FOIA?
FOIA is the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), records in possession of public agencies may be accessed by the public upon written request.
HOW DO I SUBMIT A FOIA REQUEST?
This portal allows you to submit a public record request to the Illinois State Board of Education under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Despite the reference to “information” in its title, FOIA is actually an open records law. It is not the best way to ask questions about ISBE.
This portal provides convenient 24-hour access to request and receive public records from ISBE. You will receive an email letting you know when the response to your record request is ready in the Public Records Center.
ISBE responds within five business days to non-commercial requests and within 21 days to commercial purpose requests. If any records will be used for a commercial purpose, you must disclose that fact when submitting the record request. A request is received on the next business day if submitted during non-business hours. ISBE business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST Monday through Friday. ISBE observes all state holidays.
There is no charge for electronic records. If you request paper copies, the first 50 pages are free and pages in excess of 50 are 15 cents per page. ISBE reserves the right to charge for shipping. Charges may be reduced or waived for requests in the public interest. A full description of allowable fees can be found in Section 6 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/6).
Prior to submitting your request, please see the FAQ section. The FAQ section provides links and information regarding frequently requested data and records. When submitting a request, please place the body of your request in the designated area rather than only providing your request as an attachment.
