Public schools across the United States are demanding exorbitant fees to fulfill Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, effectively blocking parents from accessing critical information about what their children are being taught. These taxpayer-funded institutions are leveraging this tactic to deter parental inquiries, often tied to controversial policies and lessons.
Parental interest in public school operations has surged in recent years. Controversies surrounding COVID-19 protocols, vaccine policies, and lessons portraying “anti-vaxxers” negatively have led to increased parental oversight. Many parents turned to FOIA requests after schools and teacher unions refused to voluntarily provide transparency.
By law, FOIA fees cannot exceed the actual cost of retrieving the requested information. However, schools are inflating these costs to deter parents from continuing their inquiries. One glaring example comes from the Rochester Community School District in Michigan. When parent Elizabeth Clair sought records on “anti-retaliation” measures following reported district misconduct, she was told it would cost over $33 million to process her request, including a deposit of more than $16 million.
This is not an isolated case. Other districts have employed similar tactics to avoid disclosing information about lessons on Critical Race Theory, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and gender ideology. Teachers unions, which wield significant influence over school policies, are frequently identified as the driving force behind such practices, with support from the Department of Education.
Critics point out the hypocrisy of schools insisting they have nothing to hide while employing aggressive strategies to shield their activities. Parents argue they have a right to know what is being taught, especially since their tax dollars fund the public education system.
The growing frustration among parents has fueled calls for school choice legislation and reform of teachers unions. Proponents of these measures argue they would empower parents to seek better educational options and dismantle systems that prioritize agendas over transparency.
For now, many parents are choosing to homeschool their children, believing it to be the only way to safeguard their kids from ideological indoctrination in public schools.
