Public Data Requests

Members of the public have the right to request public data from Saint Paul Public Schools. Learn how to request data under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and use the below form to make your request. More information can be found in Saint Paul Public Schools Procedure 304.00.3.

How to Make a Data Request

A written request must be made in order to inspect or request copies of government data using the below form. The District cannot require members of the public to identify themselves or explain the reason for the data request. However, the District may need information about the requester to process the request. If the requestor does not to give the District any identifying information, the District will provide the requester with contact information so the requester may check on the status of the request. If the District does not understand the request and has no way of contacting the requester, the District will not process the request.

How the District Will Respond to a Data Request

Upon receiving a request for public data, the District will work to process the request. If the District does not understand the request, the District will ask for clarification.

• If the District does not have the requested data, the District will notify the requester as soon as reasonably possible.
• If the District has the data but the data are not public, the District will notify the requester as soon as reasonably possible and state which specific law states that the data are not public.
• If the District has the data, and the data are public, the District will respond to the request appropriately and promptly within a reasonable amount of time.
  • This depends on things like how many data and/or copies are requested, how many staff members are needed and available to respond to the request, and the number and breadth of other data requests the District is handling.

The Minnesota Government Data Practice Act does not require the District to create or collect new data in response to a data request if the District does not already have the data, or to provide data in a specific form or arrangement if the data are not already kept in that form or arrangement.

The Minnesota Government Data Practice Act does not require the District to answer questions that are not requests for data. The District is required to answer questions seeking explanations of data.  

Copy Costs and Fees

The District is authorized to charge members of the public for copies of government data. A requestor of data may be required to pre-pay for copies before the District will give them to the requestor.

• The charge for 100 or fewer pages of black and white, letter or legal size paper copies is 25¢ for a one-sided copy or 50¢ for a two-sided copy.
• The charge for most other types of copies, when a charge is not set by statute or rule, is the actual cost of searching for and retrieving the data, and for making the copies or electronically transmitting the data.

In determining the actual cost of making copies, the District factors in the cost of employee time, the cost of the materials onto which the data is copied (paper, CD, DVD, etc.), and mailing costs (if any). If a request is for copies of data that the District cannot reproduce, such as photographs, the District will charge the actual cost the District must pay an outside vendor for the copies. 

As allowed by law, the District will charge additional fees and costs for providing copies of data that have commercial value, providing data in a different form or arrangement, creating data, and preparing summary data.