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FOIA Request and Appeal Instructions

FOIA requests and appeals may be submitted online, or via email, fax or mail. Instructions for all methods are listed below.

Submit Online

FOIA requests and appeals may be submitted easily and securely via an online form. Select a form below:

• FOIA request form
  Request U.S. Department of Education records or information.

• FOIA appeal form
  Appeal the Department's response to your request.

Submit Via Email, Fax or Mail

1. Review the templates to compose your request.

2. Be as specific as possible with regard to names, dates, places, events, subjects, etc. If known, you should include any file designations or descriptions for the records that you want. Review the FOIA Request and Appeal Checklist for a list of items we require and recommend that you include in your request and appeal letters.

3. Send FOIA requests via email to: EDFOIAManager@ed.gov
   Send FOIA appeals via email to: EDFOIAappeals@ed.gov
   
   Send requests and appeals via fax to: (202) 401-0920
   
   Send FOIA requests via mail to:

   U.S. Department of Education
   Office of Management
   Regulatory Information Management Services
   400 Maryland Avenue, SW, LBJ 2W105
   Washington, DC 20202-4536
   ATTN: FOIA Public Liaison

   Send FOIA appeals via mail to:

   U.S. Department of Education
   Office of Management
   400 Maryland Avenue, SW, FOB-6 2W311
   Washington, DC 20202-4500
   ATTN: Appeals Office

4. To avoid delay, be sure to display "FOIA Request" or "FOIA Appeal" prominently on the envelope, fax cover sheet, or email subject line.

   How Information About You is Collected and Shared With Other Organizations

   All physical access to the Department site, and the sites of Department contractors where this system of records is maintained, is controlled and monitored by security personnel who check each individual entering the building for his or her employee or visitor badge.

   The computer system employed by the Department offers a high degree of resistance to tampering and circumvention. This security system limits data access to Department and contract staff on a "need to know" basis, and controls individual users' ability to access and alter records within the system. All licensed users of this system of records are given a unique user ID with personal identifiers. All interactions by individual users within the system are recorded.