Maryland Public Information Act
Enacted in 1970, Maryland's Public Information Act (MPIA), grants the public a broad right of access to public records while protecting legitimate governmental interests and the privacy rights of individual citizens. The MPIA covers public agencies and officials in Maryland and includes all branches of state government (legislative, judicial, and executive). The MPIA is similar in purpose to the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
What is a Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) Request?
A public record is defined as the original or copy of any documentary material in any form, including written materials, books, photographs, photocopies, films, microfilms, records, tapes, computerized records, maps, and drawings created or received by the department in connection with the transaction of public business.
Submit a Public Information Request
Maryland State Department of Education is committed to providing access to public records in accordance with the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA).
It is recommended that all new Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) requests be submitted online through the MSDE Public Records Center.
Please note that some Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) requests may take 30 days to process. If fees are associated with the request, you will receive an estimate of costs and/or an invoice, which must be collected before the request being fulfilled.
For general questions about the MPIA process, please email [email protected] and allow 48 hours for a response. We ask that requesters refrain from submitting formal Maryland Public Information Act requests via email. For tracking purposes, it is recommended that you submit a request online through MSDE’s new Public Records Center.
For more information on the Maryland Public Information Act, please visit the State Attorney General's Office website.
Frequently Asked Questions
PIA FAQs
All “public records” are covered by the MPIA. The term “public record” is defined in GP § 4-101(k) and includes not only written material but also photographs, photostats, films, microfilms, recordings, tapes, computerized records, maps, drawings, and any copy of a public record.
The MPIA applies to existing records and documents. An agency has no obligation to create records to satisfy an MPIA request.
To assist in the processing of your MPIA request, please provide specific information concerning the requested record(s) of interest, such as project names, dates, types of documents, etc.
Processing of your request may take up to 30 days. Within 10 business days of receipt of the request, the Maryland State Department of Education will provide the requested documents or notice of how much time it will take to produce the record, the reason for the delay, and an “estimate of the range of fees” that might be involved in producing the record.
Please Note: The State provides the first two hours of processing free of charge. Anytime required over the two hours is subject to a fee.
All MSDE MPIA requests must be submitted in writing at:
MSDE Maryland Public Information Act Request
200 W. Baltimore Street 7th Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
or email: [email protected]