Pennsylvania Open Records 
Note: According to this study, Pennsylvania currently ranks 48 out of the 50 states in terms of its sunshine, very close to the bottom of a very dark basement.
Pennsylvania laws and court cases
Pennsylvania's open records statute
Open Government Guide to Pennsylvania's open records legislation by The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
The state Supreme Court spurns the New Castle Area School District efforts to overturn an historic open records law ruling click through photos to read the entire story.
Letter Generator
Generate an open records request that conforms to Pennsylvania's requirements
Sunshine Activist Interview
Pennsylvania citizen Tim Potts has been interviewed for his work with open records. Read his interviews, and those from other Sunshine Activists, here.
Exemptions
Document types exempted from public access.
Contacts (where to send your request)
State Department of Education Right To Know Law contact information.
PA School District Contacts
State Salary Database
The Altoona Mirror did a survey of public school superintendents and have created an online database of the contracts available here.
To see what other states have salary databases, click here.
Blogs, websites and resources that use open records
(add yours!)
Full Disclosure -- all things open records site from the York Daily Record/Sunday News
Record Tracker -- open records blog from the York Daily Record/Sunday News
The Pennsylvania Newspaper Association offers this FAQ on PA Open Records
Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition
Pass Open Records "A movement to lift the lid on Pennsylvania government"
Rock the Capital
Above Average Jane
Tony Phyrillas
Press
Head to Sunshine Review for the most recent open record updates in Pennsylvania.
2008
October 23, 2008: Pennsylvania's open records law goes into effect Jan. 1
October 14, 2008: Biglerville may impose fee for public record search
October 5, 2008: Open records law sheds light on state government
October 4, 2008: Republicans file complaint to get government records
September 10, 2008: Right-to-Know policy updated
September 9, 2008: County's property records rules may be eased
September 7, 2008: Cost of borough hall legal bills too high
September 2, 2008: State public-records gatekeeper to err on side of openness
August 28, 2008: Garner denies public's right to know contract's contents
August 13, 2008: DeWeese getting advice from longtime GOP adviser
August 2, 2008: Editorials : Boards still trying to hide open records
July 30, 2008: Judge vacates ruling on Radnor open records
July 28, 2008: To see or not to see: New era in public records access
July 23, 2008: Ex-school board member wins ruling on data
July 23, 2008: Government records database launched
July 22, 2008: State contracts go on-line
July 12, 2008: Municipal records: Open sesame
July 1, 2008: OJR meeting may have violated Sunshine Law
June 20, 2008: Keep ball rolling on open records
June 17, 2008: Officials learning new Pa. open records law
June 13, 2008: Documents ‘fire up’ controversy in Owego
June 5, 2008: Fired Mt. Pleasant policeman files suit
April 30, 2008: Local officials on new open records law: Already doing it
April 30, 2008: Officials learn about open records law
April 29, 2008: Wyomissing School Board: No laws broken
April 27, 2008: Truly public public records are best kind
April 27, 2008: State getting better about open records
April 25, 2008: Ex-reporter to head state's open records department
April 23, 2008: Our view: Closed hiring process belies open records law
April 21, 2008: Leader of open records agency awaited
April 17, 2008: Quakertown board members schooled in new Right to Know law
April 11, 2008: Swanger releases records of her legislative expenses
April 10, 2008: Legislative leaders keep expense records secret
April 9, 2008: Officials gauge Open Records Act changes
April 7, 2008: Court proposal a step back for public access
April 7, 2008: 911 calls kept secret
April 3, 2008: Record request sparks dispute in Wilkins
April 2, 2008: Officials deny resident copy of police report
March 23, 2008: Creation of open-records office among big changes
March 21, 2008: Residents enjoy more sunshine
March 18, 2008: Officials worry FOI requests will overburden system
March 16, 2008: New Pennsylvania law lets light shine on records
February 28, 2008: New Right-to-Know Law an important step forward
February 21, 2008: Officials seek directives on public records law
February 20, 2008: Editorial: Public biggest winner with open records law
February 20, 2008: Local Governments May Need Big Readjustments For Open Records Law
February 16, 2008: Open records law puts onus on agencies
February 15, 2008: Open records go a step forward
February 15, 2008: New Open Records Law eases way for public access
February 15, 2008: Rendell signs open records reform bill
February 14, 2008: Rendell to sign open-records bill today
Februaruy 13, 2008: Senate OKs open records
February 13, 2008: Landmark open-records legislation awaits Rendell’s signature
February 12, 2008: Pennsylvania's open records bill clears another hurdle
February 6, 2008: House plans vote on open records law
February 4, 2008: New state open records bill in public interest
February 1, 2008: Big step in making information available to public
January 31, 2008: Senate approves open-records measure
January 29, 2008: Editorial: Open Records: No halfway measure
January 22, 2008: Lawmakers ready open records bill for passage soon
January 19, 2008: Debate continues over open records
January 9, 2008: Open-records bill could soon be on Rendell's desk
2007
December 29, 2007: Some records released on Springdale police resignations
December 26, 2007: Opening public records still an issue in Penndel
December 21, 2007: Judge says state should settle ACLU dispute with Evesham school board
December 18, 2007: After hurdles of disclosure most provide contracts
December 18, 2007: 'For what purpose are you going to use the information?'
December 18, 2007: Open records means open all records
December 17, 2007: Pa. House passes revised open records bill
December 16, 2007: Heads of the class
December 16, 2007: There are four good reasons to keep autopsy reports open
December 15, 2007: Our view: New open records law would be welcome
December 11, 2007: Open-records changes advance in Harrisburg
December 11, 2007: Struggle for open records spills into 2008
December 11, 2007: Pa. House Delays Vote on FOI Law Changes
December 9, 2007: Public access questions arise
December 5, 2007: Pennsylvania Senate OKs bill to alter access to public records
December 2, 2007: 'Open-records lite' moves forward, lacks real means of enforcement
December 1, 2007: Uniformly apply open records law
November 30, 2007: Open records clearinghouse would cost $1.1M in 2008
November 29, 2007: Open records
November 28, 2007: Senate passes Open Records bill
November 28, 2007: Pa. Senate approves open records bill
November 28, 2007: Pa. Senate OKs change to open records bill
November 25, 2007: Culture of secrecy continues in state
November 24, 2007: Open records: Priceless, but too expensive?
November 23, 2007: Idea of open government wins in lengthy suit with Penn State
November 23, 3007: Progress is made on open records law
November 21, 2007: Ruling on famous football coach's pay is about public's right to know
November 21, 2007: Records bills on hold for break
November 20, 2007: Democrats plan press for open records reform
November 19, 2007: Democrats say open records vote will occur in House on Tuesday
November 19, 2007: Senate bill is better than House bill as hope for real open-records reform
Novermber 16, 2007: JoePa makes HOW MUCH?
November 16, 2007: Senate bill offers best hope for open records reform
November 12, 2007: House ruins open-records legislation
November 9, 2007: Your right to know ... Some things only
November 8, 2007: Pa. open records bill approved by committee
November 4, 2007: Legislators need to clean up their open records mess
November 2, 2007: Open records law: Maimed but breathing
October 31, 2007: Open records debate begins
October 30, 3007: Senate panel OKs open records changes, House pushes back debate
October 28, 2007: Pennsylvania's open records laws empower public agencies
October 25, 2007: Politicians fight against openness
October 24, 2007: Pa. House pushes back debate on open-records bill
October 23, 2007: Open record 'reform' takes state from bad to worst
October 21, 2007: Records proposal exempts e-mail
October 21, 2007: It hasn’t been smooth sailing for legislative reform efforts
October 21, 2007: Reform plans falter
October 21, 2007: House committee does skulduggery in gutting open-records proposal
October 20, 2007: Groups call for defeat of open records bill
October 18, 2007: Open Records Bill Passes State House Committee
October 17, 2007: Despite opposition, Pa. House panel moves open records bill
October 16, 2007: Open records proposal continues to be refined
October 16, 2007: Time to open records (Editorial)
October 16, 2007: Supervisors for Tunkhannock Township defy law, make secret payments
October 15, 2007: Final public records legislation could be unveiled today
October 15, 2007: Open records needed because corruption costs
October 15, 2007: Public's access to records reviewed
October 14, 2007: Coroner refuses to file autopsy records
October 12, 2007: Lawmakers pledge expanded access to records
October 10, 2007: Open-records hearing good next step
October 8, 2007: Race for commissioner: Candidates address public records access
October 5, 2007: Lawmakers eye new open-records law
October 3, 2007: Dems push online access to county records
October 2, 2007: As 'caretakers of community,' counties should be transparent (Opinion column)
October 1, 2007: Prying the door open for records
October 1, 2007: Coalition champions government access
October 1, 2007: An IQ test to see a public record?
September 26, 2007: PHEAA director stepping down. Read the earlier press items about overspending by the PHEAA to get an idea of why he is resigning.
September 24, 2007: Lawmaker calls for PHEAA reform
September 14, 2007: Dominic Pileggi: Open records reform is Senate's top priority
September 13, 2007: Team 4 Tests State's Right To Know Law
September 9, 2009: Records aren't that easy to get (Editorial)
September 6, 2007: Candidates spar over open records
September 3, 2007: Public service vs. public nuisance
August 30, 2007: Information flows freely when it comes to bridges (Opinion column)
August 27, 2007: Is Harrisburg ready to open its secret files?
August 16, 2007: Open records law: Accountability at last (Opinion column)
August 8, 2007: Pa. legislators get own look at loophole in open-records law
August 7, 2007: PennDOT silent on bridge safety rankings
August 5, 2007: Hazy explanations for state grant process show need for reform
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