Public Records Requests

A public record includes any documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, emails, data files, or other materials made or received by Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) in connection with official business.

Any member of the public—Florida resident or not—may request public records. The requester is not required to provide a reason for the request or identify themselves.

To submit a public records request, please contact the District’s Public Records Office:

Email: RecordRequests@BrowardSchools.com

When submitting your request, please include:

• A clear description of the records sought (topics, departments, date ranges, etc.)
• Any relevant details that will assist in locating the records efficiently

Mail: Please mail all request documentation to the KCW Administrative Building, located at 600 SE 3rd Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.

When submitting your request, please include your contact information. Once, received, an acknowledgement notice will be provided. 

You will receive an acknowledgment email within 24–48 hours confirming receipt and next steps. Requests are processed as quickly as possible and in the order they are received.

Processing times vary depending on the volume, complexity, and number of departments involved.

Simple requests may be fulfilled within a few days; more complex or multi-departmental requests may take longer.

Yes. You are not required to provide your name, contact information, or the reason for your request. However, providing an email address allows the District to communicate cost estimates and deliver records more efficiently.

Florida’s Public Records Law requires agencies to provide existing records only. The District is not required to create new records or compile data in response to a request.

The first 15 minutes of staff time are provided free of charge.
If extensive clerical, supervisory, or technology resources are required, you will receive a cost estimate before processing continues. Payment must be made prior to the release of records.

• Records are typically sent electronically to the requesting person via email. For large files, secure download links or flash drives may be used. Physical copies are available upon request and may incur printing costs. 
• For duplicated copies of not more than 14" x 8 1/2" in size, a fee of fifteen (15) cents per one-sided copy shall be charged. For all other copies, the actual cost of the copy shall be charged. 
• The School District shall charge an additional five (5) cents for each two-sided copy, for a total of twenty (20) cents per copy.
• If the nature or volume of public records requested to be inspected, examined, or copied is such as to require extensive use of information technology resources or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance by School District personnel, the Superintendent, or his/her designee, may charge a reasonable, special service charge for labor incurred by the personnel providing the service, in addition to the actual cost of the duplication.
• For purposes of this School Board policy, "extensive" means that it will take more than fifteen (15) minutes to locate, review confidential and exempt information, delete confidential and exempt information, prepare, copy and refile the requested material. The first 15 minutes of district staff time are provided at no cost. If additional time is required, a cost estimate at the rate of the individual performing the task will be provided to the requesting person before processing by district staff continues. Payment must be received from the requesting person prior to the inspection or copying of records. Requests requiring redaction or review of sensitive information may take additional processing time.
• The School District may charge up to one dollar ($1.00) per copy for a certified copy of a public record.

Once your request is processed and a cost estimate is provided, you may submit payment using one of the following authorized payment methods accepted through the District’s secure Authorize.Net payment system:

Accepted Payment Methods

• Credit Cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, and Diners Club

• Debit Cards: All major debit cards backed by Visa or Mastercard

• Electronic Check (ACH): Direct transfer from a checking or savings account via eCheck.Net

• Digital Payment Options: Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal (if enabled)

All payments are processed through a secure, encrypted payment gateway in compliance with PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards).

No. The Public Records Office does not handle student or educational records. If you need to make any requests that involve a student's educational information, transcripts, or cumulative files, please reach out to the respective school directly.

Each school is responsible for maintaining educational records in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and related District procedures. The school will be able to assist you with your request and provide the necessary information.

If you need to make any requests that involve a transcript or prior student records, please reach out to the Records Retention Office.

The Records Retention Office assists students who need to obtain their school transcripts. School transcripts are legal documents accepted as proof of graduation or attendance. 

Certain records are confidential or exempt under Florida or federal law, including, but limited to:

• Student education records (FERPA, §1002.22, F.S.)
• Security and emergency response plans (§281.301 & §119.071, F.S.)
• Personal identifying information of certain employees (e.g., law enforcement, judges, prosecutors) (§119.071, F.S.)
• Medical and mental health records
• Active investigation files, if applicable

If an exemption applies, the District will cite the statutory reference in writing.

Personally identifiable information of a dependent child of a current or former officer or employee of the School District, who is insured by a group insurance
plan provided by the District, is also exempt from public records requirements as set forth in the State Constitution and State statutes. This exemption applies to all
personally identifiable information held by the District.

Further, the home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and photographs of current or former human resource, labor relations, or employee relations
directors, assistant directors, managers, or assistant managers whose duties include hiring and firing employees, labor contract negotiations, administration, or
other personnel-related duties, as well as the names, home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and places of employment of the spouses and children of
such personnel, and the names and locations of schools and day care facilities attended by the children of such personnel, are exempt from F.S. 119.07(1) and
Section 24(a), Article 1 of the State Constitution. 

Any information held by the Board that would identify whether a person has been certified to serve as a school guardian is exempt from F.S. 119.07(1) and Section
24(a), Article 1, of the State Constitution.

The identity of a school or postsecondary educational institution, the personally identifiable information of any District personnel, or any specific allegations of
misconduct obtained or reported pursuant to an investigation of a testing impropriety conducted by the Department of Education are confidential and exempt
from the constitutional public records provisions until the conclusion of the investigation or until such time as the investigation ceases to be active.

Pursuant to State law, a complaint of misconduct against a District employee, and all information obtained pursuant to an investigation by the District of the complaint
of misconduct, are confidential and exempt from inspection or copying until the investigation ceases to be active, or until the District provides written notice to the 
employee who is the subject of the complaint, in the manner set forth below, that the District has either:

A. concluded the investigation with a finding not to proceed with disciplinary action or file charges, or
B. concluded the investigation with a finding to proceed with disciplinary action and/or to file charges. If the investigation results in such a finding, the District shall also file a legally sufficient complaint regarding the misconduct as required by State law.

Any material that is derogatory to an employee shall not be open to inspection for an additional ten (10) days after the employee has been notified either:

A. by certified mail, return receipt requested, to his/her address of record; or
B. by personal delivery. The employee’s signature on a copy of the materials to be filed shall be proof that such materials were given to the employee, with the understanding that such signature merely signifies receipt and does not necessarily indicate agreement with its contents.
D

Large or complex requests may be processed in phases. You will receive updates as records are reviewed and released. In some cases, a deposit may be required before processing begins.

Yes. Appointments may be scheduled to inspect records in person at the Public Records Office. Please email RecordRequests@BrowardSchools.com to arrange a time.

The Public Records Office can help clarify or refine your request to ensure the correct records are located. However, staff cannot interpret the meaning of records or create new documents. Please provide your request and the department will connect with you for any additional or clarifying information. 

You may request clarification of the fee calculation or the scope of the search. If you believe an exemption has been applied in error, you may contact the Office of Communications for review.

Records are typically sent electronically via email. For large files, secure download links or flash drives may be used. Physical copies are available upon request and may incur printing costs.

Please reply directly to your acknowledgment email or contact RecordRequests@BrowardSchools.com. Include your tracking number in the subject line for faster service.

The Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs oversees the District’s public records process, in coordination with departmental custodians and the Office of General Counsel.

Yes. The Public Records Office monitors weekly and year-to-date activity, including request volumes, completion times, and fees collected, to ensure accountability and compliance with Florida’s Sunshine Law.

For more information, please visit the Florida Legislature’s Online Sunshine website:
🔗 https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes

We are unable to accept subpoenas via email. We kindly request that you properly serve the subpoena through the appropriate legal channels. It's essential to follow these steps to ensure everything is handled appropriately and in accordance with legal requirements.

Please make sure to serve the subpoena directly to the District’s administration office  It’s crucial that the document is hand-delivered to an authorized representative of the District, who can acknowledge its receipt via a signature.

For all District records:
Public Records Office (KCW Building)
600 SE 3rd Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301