Certificate data
| Tracking # |
73158 TEA PIR #73158 73158 PIR # 73158 |
| Submitted | Dec. 13, 2024 |
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Communications
From: Marina Villeneuve
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Hello,
My name's Marina VIlleneuve and I'm an investigative reporter for The Hechinger Report.
As you're aware, states report data on exiting students with disabilities.
https://data.ed.gov/dataset/idea-section-618-state-part-b-exiting/resources
The data includes numbers of students leaving with alternative certificates, including GEDS.
Texas, for example, reported 13,952 students exited with certificates in 2022-2023
Under Texas' public records act, I am requesting the following data:
For school years 2022-2023, 2017-2018 and 2012-2013,
the number of students with disabilities under IDEA who received
1) certificates of completion,
2) modified diplomas and
3) GEDS.
I am requesting that data broken out by each category. The Texas DOE said I should submit a public records request for this data.
Sincerely,
Marina Villeneuve
Investigative Reporter,
Hechinger Report
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Marina Villeneuve
From: Texas Education Agency
Public Information Request
Receipt Acknowledgement
December 13, 2024
Marina Villeneuve
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 177527
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
TEA PIR #73158
Dear Marina Villeneuve:
Thank you for contacting the Texas Education Agency. I want to acknowledge receipt of your request. Your request number is PIR # 73158.
Our Public Information Request Coordinators are processing your request in coordination with the area(s) that may have the responsive information/data. A response to your request should be provided on or before 10 business days: January 8, 2025. Should you not receive a response within this timeline, please do not hesitate to contact our office and ask to speak to one of our Coordinators.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss this matter further, please contact me at (512) 463-3464 or by email at PIR@tea.texas.gov<file:///C:/Users/fzuma/AppData/Local/Temp/PIR@tea.texas.gov>.
Sincerely,
Jenny Eaton
Public Information Coordinator
Enclosure: Original Request
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attachment-1
From: Texas Education Agency
Public Information Request
Programming and/or Manipulation of Data
Statement of Cost Estimate
December 19, 2024
Marina Villeneuve
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 177527
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
TEA PIR #73158
Dear Marina Villeneuve:
On December 13, 2024, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) received your request for public information. Because the cost to fulfill your request will exceed $100.00 and requires programming and/or manipulation of data, TEA must provide an itemized statement of estimated charges that may be included in your final Invoice Statement.
The Statement of Cost Estimate for your request is enclosed. Please note that full payment is not due at this time, only the deposit amount.
Data Specifications
The attached Statement of Cost Estimate is for work to produce the information responsive to your request.
Less Costly Alternatives and Format
On the enclosed cost estimate, please indicate the method by which you wish to receive the information. TEA must provide you the information in its original format. However, if TEA has the technology to do so, it will provide you the information in other formats. There are less expensive ways for you to obtain this information. These charges may be reduced if you narrow or clarify the scope of your request (reduce data fields, timeline, etc.). Additionally, other alternative options for less costly or no-cost way of accessing the information, such as TEA website or in person inspection, may be described in this letter, if available.
Anticipated date on which your records/data will be released to you is indicated on the enclosed statement (based on 35 business days to complete the work) and it is recalculated from the date the agency receives your payment of the deposit, as work will not begin until the minimum 50% deposit is received.
Deposit
TEA requires a deposit before beginning to retrieve and prepare the information for you to review or receive. The deposit is required when costs to make the information available exceeds $100.00, or the information is older than five (5) years old, or the information will fill six (6) archival boxes and more than five hours is estimated to make the information available. This deposit amount will be 50% of the entire estimated amount and will be reflected in the enclosed cost estimate.
Adjustment to Estimated Cost
Occasionally, after starting the work, but before making the information available to you, TEA may find that the actual cost will exceed the initial estimate. In this case, if the cost estimate exceeds more than 20% above the estimated amount, TEA will issue a new cost estimate for approval. You must respond to the adjusted statement within 30 business days or your request will be considered withdrawn. If the actual cost is below or it exceeds the estimated amount, but by no more than 20%, the cost will be adjusted in the invoice.
Confidential or Excepted Information
If the records or data you are requesting includes student identifying information TEA will withhold this information in compliance with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. Section 1232g. TEA is required to withhold from public disclosure personally identifiable, non-directory information in education records. Additionally, FERPA does not permit state and local educational authorities to disclose to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) personally identifiable information contained in education records for the purpose of review in the open records ruling process under the Texas Public Information Act. The United States Department of Education has ruled FERPA determinations must be made by the educational authority in possession of the education records. Consequently, it is impermissible for TEA to seek an OAG opinion concerning the applicability of FERPA to records responsive to a public information request. https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/files/divisions/open-government/20060725-USDept-Education.pdf
If the records or data you are requesting includes social security numbers of a living person, TEA will withhold this information by removing it from the record before releasing it to you. TEA must protect this information under the Texas Public Information Act and is authorized to do so without requesting a decision from the Texas Attorney General. (Open Records Decision No. 634 (1995); Government Code §552.147)
Important 30-day Timeline
So that your request is not automatically withdrawn, you must respond to TEA about the cost estimate within 30 business days from the date this estimate is sent to you.
On the enclosed cost estimate, you must indicate whether:
1. You accept the charges and submit payment of the required deposit amount;
2. You have attached a modified request and request another estimate;
3. You withdraw your request entirely; or
4. You filed a complaint with the Cost Rules Administrator, Office of Attorney General; and provided a copy of your complaint to the Public Information Coordination Office, TEA Legal Services [§552.2615 of the Government Code].
Return your response within 30 business days to:
Modified Request, Denied or Accepted Cost Estimate:
Payment Address:
TEA - Public Information Coordinator
TEA – PIR 73158
1701 North Congress Avenue
P.O. Box 13717
Austin, Texas 78701-1494
Austin, TX 78711-3717
FAX: (512) 463-1022
E-MAIL: PIR@tea.texas.gov<mailto:PIR@tea.texas.gov>
Accepted payment methods by mail are money orders and checks, made payable to “Texas Education Agency- PIR”. We do not accept credit card or online payments at this time. Please include your PIR number with your payment; the payment address is listed above. In person payments are currently accepted by the TEA Accounting office on weekdays between 8:00 am -10:00 am. If you would like to make a payment during business hours outside this timeframe, please contact the PIR office to arrange an appointment.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss this matter further, please contact me at (512) 463-3464 or by email at PIR@tea.texas.gov<mailto:PIR@tea.texas.gov>.
Sincerely,
Jenny Eaton
Public Information Coordinator
Enclosures:
Original Request
Itemized Statement of Cost Estimate
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attachment-1
From: Marina Villeneuve
To Whom It May Concern:
Please find enclosed a check for $172.80 to satisfy the fee associated with the attached public records request.
Thank you.
From: Marina Villeneuve
To Whom It May Concern:
Please know we have started processing a check for this request fee. A check will be sent out within the next couple of days to Texas Education Agency, Public Information Coordinator, 1701 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701-1494.
Thank you.
Texas Education Agency
Public Information Coordinator
1701 N. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78701-1494
From: Texas Education Agency
Public Information Request
Payment Received
February 6, 2025
Marina Villeneuve
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 177527
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
TEA PIR #73158
Dear Marina Villeneuve:
On December 13, 2024, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) received your request for public information. On January 31, 2025, TEA received payment for the requested information.
We anticipate that the requested information will be provided to you on or before March 21, 2025.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss this matter further, please contact me at (512) 463-3464 or by email at PIR@tea.texas.gov.
Sincerely,
Jenny Eaton
Public Information Coordinator
From: Texas Education Agency
Public Information Request
Release Documents at No Charge
March 17, 2025
Marina Villeneuve
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 177527
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
TEA PIR #73158
Dear Marina Villeneuve:
On December 13, 2024, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) received your request for public information. To the extent it exists, the requested information is provided to you with this letter and includes a copy of the original request. Additionally, there are no charges for fulfilling this request and PIR # 73158 is considered closed.
For inquiries regarding the content of the documents or data received, please contact mediarelations@tea.texas.gov<mailto:mediarelations@tea.texas.gov>.
Sincerely,
Jenny Eaton
Public Information Coordinator
Enclosures:
Original Request
TEA Responsive Document
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attachment-1
