Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) & Public Records Requests

Colearn Academy South Carolina is committed to transparency and complies with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). In accordance with state law, members of the public may request access to or copies of public records maintained by the school, subject to applicable exemptions and confidentiality requirements.

How to Submit a Public Records Request

Requests to inspect or receive copies of public records should be submitted in writing. Requests should describe the records being requested with enough detail to allow the school to identify and locate the records.

Public Records Contact:
Amber Robinson
Phone: 864-766-7139
Email: arobinson@colearn-academy.com

Request Process

Upon receipt of a written request, Colearn Academy South Carolina will review the request and respond in accordance with the timelines established by the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act. The response will indicate whether the requested records are subject to disclosure, when the records are expected to be available, and any estimated costs associated with fulfilling the request.

Certain records or portions of records may be exempt from disclosure under state or federal law. When applicable, confidential or exempt information will be redacted before records are released.

Public Records Fee Schedule

Colearn Academy South Carolina may charge reasonable fees for fulfilling public records requests. Fees will not exceed the actual cost of searching for, retrieving, and, when necessary, redacting records.

• Standard paper copies: $0.10 per page.
• Non-standard documents: Charged based on the actual cost of reproduction.
• Search, retrieval, and redaction: Charged at the prorated hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee who has the necessary skill and training to fulfill the request.
• Staff time: Calculated in 15-minute increments.
• Electronic records: No copying fee is charged for records that already exist electronically. If records must be converted to an electronic format, applicable staff time may be charged.
• Deposit: A deposit of up to 25% of the estimated total cost may be required before work begins for requests involving a large number of records, extensive staff time, or confidential information requiring review or redaction.

Colearn Academy South Carolina will make reasonable efforts to fulfill public records requests at the lowest possible cost. When applicable, an estimated cost will be provided before the records are produced.