Open Records Requests (CORA)

Open Records Requests (CORA)


The Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) is the law that allows public access to many government records including school and school district records. Two important exceptions to this general rule are requests for student records and portions of employee personnel files. 


Student Records:
Student records are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and are not subject to disclosure under CORA. To obtain student records, please refer to the district’s Student Data and Enrollment Services webpage.

Personnel Files: 
CORA prohibits public school districts from releasing certain parts of employee personnel files including, but not limited to: home addresses, telephone numbers, financial information, certain employee evaluation reports, letters of reference, and other information maintained because of the employer-employee relationship.

*DCSD will redact personally identifiable information regarding students or staff when fulfilling a CORA request unless otherwise prohibited by law. 


Before Submitting a CORA Request, Please Review the Below Information: 

Prior to submitting a CORA request, we encourage you to consider the following options first as the information you are seeking may be available on our website or via a request to your school.  



To Make a Records Request, per the Colorado Open Records Act,
Please Complete this Online Form


  • Inspection of Records: If the requester wishes to inspect the records responsive to the request in advance of receiving copies, such inspection shall be by appointment only during normal business hours. A district representative will supervise the requester during the inspection period.

  • Fees and Charges: The district will ordinarily include an estimate of the costs associated with responding to a request for records in its initial response to the requester unless the requested records are not subject to disclosure. The estimate shall include the costs associated with responding to the request in accordance with CORA. Payment is due in full prior to records being released. 

Response Time

  • For purposes of CORA's timelines, requests received after 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time or on a weekend or holiday will be considered to be received on the following business day.
  • Requested information will be returned within three business days, but may be extended by an additional seven working days if certain extenuating circumstances exist, in accordance with CORA.
  • If the public records requested are not in the custody or control of DCSD, DCSD will direct the requestor to the person or entity that does have access to the requested records, if applicable. 


Redactions

  • Consistent with Colorado law, some CORA requests may be denied, or may include redacted information.
  • Types of documents that may be withheld or redacted include: student records; personnel files and letters of reference; medical, mental health, ad scholastic data of a person; attorney-client privileged communications and work product; contact information for students and families; personal contact information for employees; and personal email addresses of individuals.

Related District Policies and State Law

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In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).