FAQ

What is government data?

According to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, "government data" means all data collected, created, received, maintained or disseminated by any government entity regardless of its physical form, storage media or conditions of use.

How do I make a data request?

Please visit the MPS Data Request Center to request data.

How long will it take to complete my request?

If your request is for data about you, MPS will respond within ten business days (Minn. Stat. § 13.04).

If your request is for public data that is not about you, MPS will respond in a prompt manner within a reasonable time (Minn. Stat. § 13.03 and Minn. R. 1205.0300). Response times vary based on the type, size, and complexity of the request.

Do I have to pay for the data?

If we provide electronic copies of the data or you view the data in-person, there is no charge. If you would like physical copies of the data, you may be charged for the copies. You may need to pay for the cost of preparing summary data. See below for a FAQ about summary data.

What data about students is considered public?

According to MPS Policy, only the following information is available to the general public as directory information:

• Name, height, and weight of individual members of athletic teams
• Name of recipient and name of award or scholarship received
• Names of participants in officially recognized school activities

What records, data, and information can I get?

There are two primary laws governing MPS data and records--the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Each contains many detailed provisions, classifying information as private, public, or confidential. If you place a request and we cannot provide the data to you because it is not public, we will let you know.

How do I request my transcript?

Please follow the instructions at this link: Transcripts - Minneapolis Public School District (mpschools.org).

Where can I find commonly requested public information?

MPS publishes many reports and other types of information online. Links are provided below:

• Tableau: MPS Public Data Dashboard
• MN Department of Education Report Card
• Student transcripts and diploma verification
• Research and evaluation requests
• Budget documents
• MPS Policies and Regulations
• MPS School Board meeting agendas and materials
• MPS School Board meeting minutes (archived to 1921)

When I make a public data request, is my name private?

No, the information provided in a public data request is public. Any data you provide including your name, email address, and data requested, are considered public data.

Can I make a public data request anonymously?

Yes, you can make a public data request without providing your name or any other identifying information. However, you will be required to provide an email address to submit a request. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can create an email address that does not include your name. Requiring an email address ensures our anonymous requests receive the same level of service provided to requesters who provide contact information.

Can I use this portal to request my own records?

Yes, you can use this portal to make requests for data or records about you. If you are an employee, we encourage you to first use the district self-service systems to see if you can find what you need there. If you are requesting data about yourself using the data request portal, please include "This data is about me."

Are there special instructions for requesting email messages?

Yes. In order to process your request, please include:

• The name of the MPS employee whose email messages you are seeking. Please file a new request for each individual employee.
• A date range.
• Information about the specific topic, keywords, name, or issue you are requesting.

Since email messages can contain government data that is protected by state and federal law, as well as personal messages, each message will be reviewed for private data as well as for data that does not meet the definition of "government data." Given our legal obligation to protect private data, requests for email messages are among the most complex and time-consuming requests we process. MPS can only release data from email messages that are: (1) work-related and (2) not prohibited from disclosure by a state or federal law. As a result, we must review every single email message before we release them.

What is a request for summary data and how does it work?

Summary data means reports or statistical data derived from private data and from which all identifying information is removed. Under M.S. 13.05, subd. 7, the requester must pay the costs of preparing summary data, which may include employee time, materials, and programming costs. If charges are necessary, we will inform the requester (1) whether it is possible to produce summary data without compromising data privacy, and (2) if so, the estimated costs for producing the summary data. You may need to pre-pay a portion or all of the costs before we will begin preparing the summary data.