Court Rules Teachers Exempted from Freedom of Information Act Demands

The Michigan’s Oakland County Circuit Court made this ruling earlier in the month. schoolteachers are not subject The Freedom of Information Act. Experts shared their opinions with the Daily Caller News Foundation This ruling raises concerns about transparency in public schools.

Judge Jacob James Cunningham determined Public school teachers will not be required to produce school-related documents as a response to FOIA requests on December 15. They are not considered. “public bodies” Their documents are therefore not considered “public records.”

On March 14, Mackinac Center Legal Foundation filed a lawsuit For the Rochester Community Schools district Carol Beth LitkouhiA parent and their children are enrolled in a school in the area.

Litkouhi claimed that she was denied certain materials by the district. “History of Ethnic and Gender Studies,” You are thus violating FOIA law.

“It is incredibly disappointing that the district continues to refuse to be transparent and has stonewalled my efforts to learn more about what is being taught in the classroom,” Litkouhi stated.

The following is an extract from the lawsuitThe district demanded that Litkouhi make a $419 deposit in order to obtain certain materials through a FOIA request. Litkouhi claimed the district had provided her with some documents including an icebreaker assignment as well as a unit plan. However, all other materials she requested were denied.

District claimed that certain documents were copyrighted and others didn’t exist.

“Schools must make curricula available to parents under Michigan law,” Steve Delie is the Mackinac Center’s director for open government and transparency. “Despite this, Rochester schools has repeatedly failed to fulfill this legal obligation. It shouldn’t take months of back and forth, hundreds of dollars and a lawsuit just to see what is being taught in your community.”

The DCNF was told by experts that parents should be concerned about the welfare of their children.

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