Legal
Public records you are entitled to request
Federal and state transparency laws give a right to request records, and the process is more usable than its reputation suggests.
Federal agencies are subject to the Freedom of Information Act, and every state has an equivalent statute covering state and local bodies. The right belongs to anyone and generally does not require a reason to be given.
Requests work best when specific: naming the body that holds the record, the subject, a date range and the kind of document. A narrow request is answered faster and costs less than a broad one, and agencies will often help narrow it if asked.
Fees are usually charged for search and copying beyond a free allowance, and waivers are commonly available where the request is in the public interest or the requester cannot pay. Asking for an estimate before the work begins avoids an unexpected invoice.
Agencies must respond within a statutory period and must explain any refusal, which can then be appealed. Many states publish sample request letters, and several non-profit organisations maintain free request generators.
What to do next. Name the body, the subject and a date range in the request, and ask for a fee estimate before the search begins.
studentaid.gov outranks this page. Rules, figures and dates change
between academic years. This is written to help you read the official sources, not to
stand in front of them. Start there.
Nothing here is a determination. We cannot tell you what you qualify
for, and no website can. The programme and the office that runs it decide that, after
you apply.
Still have a question?
Describe what you are trying to work out and a member of the team will answer, or direct you to the office that makes the decision.