State Representative Jermaine Johnson (D-Richland) has submitted a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to the South Carolina Department of Education, seeking information on the controversial partnership with political organization PragerU.
The full text of the FOIA request is below:
"Dear FOIA Officer,
Pursuant to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq.), I hereby request copies of any and all records, including but not limited to, emails, memoranda, letters, reports, notes, meeting minutes, and other written or electronic communications related to or referencing the decision to partner with PragerU, between Superintendent Ellen Weaver and any other staff within the South Carolina Department of Education, external parties, including representatives of or affiliated with PragerU, or other stakeholders.
Further, please include any communications regarding the process for determining qualifications for partnerships with the Department of Education and whether this partnership with PragerU was approved through the process for adopting instructional materials as set forth in Regulation No. 43-70.
This request covers the period from January 1, 2023, to the present. If possible, I request that the records be provided in an electronic format. If any part of my request is denied, please provide a detailed justification for each denial, including specific references to the applicable exemptions under the law. Additionally, if the requested records or portions of the records are not available, please inform me of the reasons for the unavailability.
Please also inform me in advance of any fees associated with fulfilling this request. Should the costs exceed $100, I ask that you notify me before processing the request. I look forward to your timely response as required by the law. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Representative Jermaine L. Johnson, Sr."
