The S.C. Department of Education says records requests must now go through a new online portal, with a fee schedule for search, retrieval and copying costs.
Based on a release from S.C. Dept. of Education.
The South Carolina Department of Education has begun using a new records request portal for Freedom of Information Act requests, effective Jan. 13, 2025, according to the department.
New requests must be submitted through the SCDE FOIA Portal, according to the department. Requests submitted on or before Jan. 12, 2025, can be viewed through a separate link provided by the department.
The department said the portal does not currently meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 standards. Requesters who cannot use the portal due to accessibility issues may submit requests by email to [email protected], according to the department.
The department said its business is open to public review as required by the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30, fees for search, retrieval or redaction of records cannot exceed the prorated hourly salary of the lowest-paid employee qualified to fulfill the request, according to the department. The SCDE said it charges only for its costs to fulfill each request and that requests requiring minimal staff time or photocopying should be answered without charge.
For requests estimated to cost $100 or more, the department said requesters will be notified and given a chance to narrow the request, or will be required to pay a 25% deposit in advance. Full payment is required before records are released, according to the department.
Listed fees include $0.10 per page for printed copies, $10 for a USB drive, and hourly rates ranging from $29 for administrative staff to $91 for deputy-level staff, according to the department. Redactions are billed at $29 per hour, and computer costs and postage of $2 or more are charged at actual cost.
The department said requests for GED transcripts can be made online, while school bus video footage requests should go to individual school districts, which keep those records. Transcript requests should also be directed to the school district where a student attended, according to the department.
