Public Records Requests Generally

(1) In accordance with the Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA), T.C.A. § 10-7-503, all state, county, and municipal records shall, at all times during business hours, be open for personal inspection by any citizen of this state, and those in charge of the records shall not refuse such right of inspection to any citizen, unless otherwise provided by state law. Accordingly, the public records of the Tennessee Commission on Education Recovery and Innovation (Commission) are presumed to be open for inspection unless an exemption is otherwise provided by law. (2) Pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-1-107(f), the State Board of Education (State Board) staff shall assist the Commission in providing access and assistance in a timely and efficient manner to persons requesting access to public records. No provisions of this chapter shall be used to hinder access to open public records. However, the integrity and organization of public records, as well as the efficient and safe operation of the Commission shall be protected as provided by current law. Concerns about the provisions or enforcement of this rule should be addressed to the Commission’s Public Records Request Coordinator or to the Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel (OORC). (3) State Board personnel will respond promptly to public record requests upon proof of Tennessee citizenship by presentation of a validly issued Tennessee driver’s license or Tennessee-issued identification.