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Public Records Act Requests

California Public Records Act (CPRA) Requests

Alameda County Office of Education (ACOE) is committed to transparency and upholding the public's right to access information under the California Public Records Act (CPRA), Government Code §§ 7920.000 et seq. This page outlines how to submit a public records request, what to expect during the review process, and which records may be exempt from disclosure.

To help us serve you better, ACOE strongly encourages submitting your public records request using our online form. While oral requests are accepted, a written submission ensures accuracy, provides a clear tracking record, and helps prevent delays in processing.

 

Additional Information

What is a Public Record?

Government Code § 7920.530 defines a public record as any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency, regardless of physical form or characteristics. "Writing" is defined broadly under Government Code § 6252 to include handwriting, typewriting, printing, photocopying, electronic mail, facsimile transmissions, and every other means of recording upon any tangible thing any form of communication or representation.

 

The following are generally not considered public records subject to disclosure:

  • Preliminary drafts and notes
  • Documents not retained by the agency
  • Records related to pending or active litigation (subject to applicable privilege)

Guidelines for Access

Request Methods: No specific form must be used to make a request. A request can be made orally or in writing, but written requests are strongly encouraged to help reduce confusion about the records requested. Requests should be submitted through our form

Identifying Records: To help us provide records promptly, please provide specific information about the records you seek including the record name, subject matter, author's name, date, office, or department that created and/or maintained the record. When a record cannot be identified by name, please be as specific as possible in describing the record, based on its content.

 

 

 

Submission, Process & Timeline

Anyone can submit a request for Public Records

Pursuant to Government Code §7922.600, in order to make a focused and effective request, please include the following applicable information to ensure the scope of the request is narrow and clear enough for personnel to determine if Castro Valley Unified School District has the records you are requesting and can produce these records in a timely manner:

  • The subject of the record.
  • A clear, concise, and specific description of the record(s) being requested.
  • Please provide the date(s) of the record(s) or a time period for your request (e.g., calendar year 2020)—longer time spans will result in larger files.
  • Your request includes the full names of the individuals and/or sites/departments, including proper spelling.
  • If you are looking for communications outside of our district email accounts, provide email addresses, i.e., person@gmail.com.
  • Any additional information that helps staff identify the record(s) being requested.

Time Deadlines: The District is required to determine within 10 business days (can be extended to 24 days for voluminous/complex requests), after receipt of a records request, whether or not the requested records are subject to disclosure and to notify the person requesting the reasons for that determination. The records themselves are not required to be released in 10 business days. When deciding, the District will provide a good faith estimate of when the records will be available. Please be aware that the District receives a very high volume of requests for records and that requests are generally processed in the order in which they are received.

Copying Fees: Paper copies of disclosable records are normally provided for $0.10 per page and will be sent upon receipt of full payment.  Electronic copies of disclosable records do not have a charge.

Exemptions: The District may refuse to disclose any records or portions of records that are exempt from disclosure under the law.

 

Contact Us

 

For additional assistance, please email:
communications@acoe.org