A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the New Jersey State Board of Education regarding instructional mandates for state K-12 schools on December 10, 2024.
The request, made by Garden State Times, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, sought a list of all instructional mandates for state K-12 schools. This includes all required courses and general instruction.
In the request, we highlighted our role as a media organization in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
The New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., allows access to this kind of information. The requested data will be used to shed light on the educational requirements set by the state for K-12 schools and help us provide more comprehensive coverage of local education policies.
We are awaiting a response from the New Jersey State Board of Education regarding this request.
