Privacy Act Request Instructions

Privacy requests may be submitted online or via fax or mail. Instructions for all methods are listed below.

Privacy Act Request Form (PDF, 370 KB)

Submit Online

Privacy Act Requests may be submitted easily and securely through the Department's online FOIA portal located here.

Submit Via Fax or Mail

Be as specific as possible with regard to names, dates, places, events, subjects, etc. If known, you should include any file designations or descriptions for the records that you want. Review the Privacy Act Request Checklist for a list of items we require and recommend that you include in your request letters.
Send requests via fax to: (202) 401-0920
Send requests via mail to:

U.S. Department of Education
FOIA Service Center
Office of the Secretary
400 Maryland Ave, SW, LBJ, 7C104
Washington, DC 20202-4500
To avoid delay, be sure to display "Privacy Act Request" prominently on the envelope or fax cover sheet.

Privacy Act Statement

If you request information about yourself under the Privacy Act, you will be asked to provide either a notarized statement or a statement signed under penalty of perjury stating that you are the person who you claim to be and that you understand that the knowing and willful request for or acquisition of a record pertaining to an individual under false pretenses is a criminal offense under the Privacy Act subject to a $5,000 fine.

You may fulfill this requirement by completing the following form

Certification of Identity and Consent (PDF, 1,142KB)

How Information About You is Collected and Shared With Other Organizations

All physical access to the Department site, and the sites of Department contractors where this system of records is maintained, is controlled and monitored by security personnel who check each individual entering the building for his or her employee or visitor badge.

The computer system employed by the Department offers a high degree of resistance to tampering and circumvention. This security system limits data access to Department and contract staff on a "need to know" basis, and controls individual users' ability to access and alter records within the system. All licensed users of this system of records are given a unique user ID with personal identifiers. All interactions by individual users within the system are recorded.