New York State Education Department FOIL Requests
New York State’s Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law §87 et. seq.) allows members of the public to access records of governmental agencies. FOIL provides a process for the review and copying of an agency’s records. Find more information about the Freedom of Information Law on the Department of State website.
Please note that each government entity or agency handles their own FOIL requests.
Click here for a Subject Matter List of Education Department records.
Submitting a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Request to the New York State Education Department
Freedom of Information Law requests for State Education Department records may be submitted by:
- Online FOIL Submission Form
- E-Mail to [email protected]
- Mail:
Records Access Officer
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Ave, Room 124 EB
Albany, NY 12234
Phone: 518-474-5520
Fax: 518-473-2827
Sample FOIL Request for Records
Fee for Duplication of Records
SED charges the statutorily permitted fee of $.25 per page for photocopies of records requested under FOIL (Public Officers Law §87[1][b][iii]). Additional copy preparation fees may apply as permitted by law. There is no provision in law or regulation requiring a waiver of this fee. Payment must be made to the NYS Education Department by check or money order. Payment should not be submitted until you are notified that your request is granted and informed of the charge for your request.
Submitting a FOIL Appeal
Any person denied access to a record may appeal within thirty days by emailing [email protected] or writing to:
Commissioner of Education
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue
Room 111, Education Building
Albany, NY 12234
FOIL Appeal Procedures
Pursuant to New York Public Officers Law §89(4) within ten business days of the receipt of a FOIL appeal an agency shall “fully explain in writing to the person requesting the record the reasons for further denial, or provide access to the record sought.” Failure by an agency to provide such a determination shall constitute a denial. A person denied access to a record in a FOIL appeal determination may bring a proceeding for review of such denial pursuant to article seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules.
Requesting Confidential Educational Record(s), Information or Data
If you are requesting confidential educational record(s), information or data you must fill out the Department’s “Verification and Authorization” form and provide the completed signed and notarized form to the Records Access Office.
A legible scanned or faxed copy is acceptable. You may fax the form to 518-473-2827, send it by email to [email protected], or mail to the Records Access Office, New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue (Room 124 EB), Albany, NY 12234.
Requesting Disciplinary Information on a Licensed Professional or Educator
The Freedom of Information Law, while making certain Department records available for inspection or release, does not apply to records that are specifically exempted from disclosure by state or federal statute (Public Officers Law, Section 87(2)(a)).
Section 6510 (8) of the Education Law specifically states “the files of the Department relating to the investigation of possible instances of professional misconduct, or the unlawful practice of any profession licensed by the board of regents, or the unlawful use of a professional title or the moral fitness of an applicant for a professional license or permit, shall be confidential and not subject to disclosure at the request of any person, except upon the order of a court in a pending action or proceeding.”
If you desire disciplinary information about professionals licensed by the State Education Department, please visit our Office of the Professions' Verification Search to search professionals by name or license number. Disciplinary information related to physicians is available through the New York State Department of Health’s website.
Requesting Diplomas or Educational Records
Visit NYSED's High School Equivalency website for high school equivalency (GED®/TASC™) records.
School records should be directed to the school or school district of attendance. You can find a list of school districts and contact information on NYSED's website.