Students/Educators
Aspiring journalists and educators can get involved with Sunshine Week by participating in Sunshine Week events, creating their own Sunshine Week activities or by simply taking time to learn about open government and its importance to democracy.
SPJ’s step-by-step guide on FOI for students
It’s not easy getting access to public records and meetings when you’re a journalist. It can be even worse when you are a student journalist. If you’re unfamiliar with FOI laws, need help submitting a records request or simply don’t know where to start, this guide can help.
Every student should be familiar with this organization, which is dedicated to press freedom at universities and high schools. The website is loaded with practical guides to accessing public records and meetings, including rights for students at private universities.
This organization is dedicated to making sure college students are aware of dangers on their campuses. You’ll find expert knowledge on the Clery Act, which requires universities to make campus crime information public, including crime logs and annual statistics.
Department of Education FERPA site
Often school officials will say everything is secret, even the basic fact that a student attends the school, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Refer those officials to this official website for the U.S. Department of Education, which enforces FERPA.