Parents across the country are encountering sky-high fees when filing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to access public school records. These inflated costs are being used as a tool to prevent parents from understanding what their children are being taught in schools.
The surge in parental FOIA requests stems from frustrations over school policies, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lessons promoting vaccine mandates and controversial health measures, as well as reports of children receiving vaccines without parental consent, have driven parents to seek greater oversight of their local schools.
However, districts are fighting back with massive fees. In one Michigan district, a parent was charged more than $33 million for requesting emails related to “anti-retaliation” measures. The district also demanded a $16 million deposit before beginning the search.
These practices have become commonplace, particularly in response to requests for information on lessons involving Critical Race Theory, DEI, and gender ideology. Critics argue that teachers unions, bolstered by federal support, are the primary force behind these obstructions.
Legal experts note that FOIA fees are supposed to cover only the actual cost of retrieving information. By inflating costs, districts are violating the spirit of transparency laws, leaving parents in the dark about what their children are learning.
Many parents and advocacy groups are now calling for reforms, including breaking up teachers unions and advancing school choice legislation. They argue these measures would empower families to seek alternatives and hold schools accountable for their actions.
Until such reforms take hold, homeschooling is increasingly seen as the only viable option for parents concerned about public school agendas.
