The School Won’t Give Me Information

They have 3 business days. Your child’s records: 10 business days. Surveillance footage: request it today. There are penalties for non-compliance.

General public records: 3 working days

Under Louisiana’s Public Records Law (RS 44:1 et seq.), schools must respond to a public records request within 3 working days. This applies to budgets, bylaws, board member information, charter contracts, board minutes, vendor contracts, and discipline data.

If they need more time, they must notify you in writing with an estimated completion date within that same 3-day window — silence is not an acceptable response.

Use the Public Records Request template to start this process.

Penalty for non-compliance: courts can award up to $100 per day for each day a school doesn’t comply after the deadline.

Your child’s school records: 10 business days

Under RS 17:406.9 (Louisiana’s Parents’ Bill of Rights) and FERPA, schools must provide your child’s records — academic records, discipline history, IEP documents, health records, assessment results, and teacher notes — within 10 business days.

You do not need to appear in person to request these records, and electronic copies must be provided free of charge. If a school tells you otherwise, that’s a violation worth documenting.

Use the Child’s Records Request template.

Surveillance footage: request it the same day

If your child was involved in an incident captured on camera, time matters. Surveillance systems often overwrite footage within 30 to 60 days — sometimes sooner. Under RS 44:3.1.1, a written request creates a legal obligation for the school to preserve that footage.

Don’t wait. Use the Surveillance Footage Preservation Request template the same day you learn of an incident.

What to do if a deadline is missed

1. Send a follow-up email referencing your original request and the date you sent it
2. If there’s still no response, use the Procedural Violation Documentation Letter to put the violation on record
3. If the school still doesn’t comply, file a formal complaint with the Louisiana Department of Education

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change — always verify with a licensed attorney for your specific situation.