### Penn State and Department of Education challenge disclosure order
Penn State University and the Pennsylvania Department of Education have appealed to the state Supreme Court, asking it to block a lower court’s decision that would require the release of internal trustee records.
The appeal follows a Commonwealth Court ruling that determined the university’s board of trustees’ documents fall under the state’s Right-to-Know Law, requiring public access. Penn State and the department argue that the university’s governance structure and funding level mean it is not fully subject to the same disclosure rules as state agencies.
### Arguments on institutional autonomy
According to court filings, the university maintains that disclosing internal communications among trustees could harm institutional independence and expose confidential deliberations. The state Department of Education joined the case, supporting Penn State’s claim that the ruling could set a precedent affecting other state-affiliated institutions.
### Legal significance
The outcome could redefine how Pennsylvania’s open records laws apply to state-related universities, including Penn State, Temple, Pitt, and Lincoln. These universities receive partial public funding but historically have had limited reporting obligations compared to fully public institutions.
> “The issue before the court isn’t only about transparency,” Penn State’s legal team wrote, “but about maintaining the proper boundaries between state oversight and university autonomy.”
### Author’s summary
Penn State and the state education department are asking Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court to block a records disclosure ruling, citing risks to institutional autonomy and confidentiality.
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The Express - Lock Haven — 2025-11-29