# Kentucky AG Rules Against Records Release at Community Action Agency **Published:** 2026-05-28T00:00:00.000Z **Source:** [KY Attorney General Open Records](https://www.ag.ky.gov/Resources/orom/2026/26-ORD-241.pdf) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/kentucky-ag-rules-against-records-release-at-community-action-agency Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman determined that a Bowling Green-based nonprofit community action agency properly withheld email records containing information about children, upholding federal education privacy protections over state open records law. In [an open records decision issued May 28](https://www.ag.ky.gov/Resources/orom/2026/26-ORD-241.pdf), the attorney general ruled that [Community Action of Southern Kentucky](https://www.casoky.org/) did not violate Kentucky's Open Records Act when it denied Andrea Craddick's request for email exchanges she had with the organization's employees. Craddick, who worked for the nonprofit, requested copies of all emails involving her communications with CASK staff. The organization released portions of the emails relating directly to her personnel file and resignation, but withheld other correspondence citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law protecting student privacy in education records. The Attorney General's Office found that CASK properly invoked FERPA protections. Because the emails contained information about children and Craddick had participated in the correspondence, she could potentially identify the children mentioned, the decision stated. Federal law prohibits disclosure of such information without parental written consent. Craddick argued she was entitled to the records either through name redactions or under Kentucky law granting employees access to records relating to their employment. The Attorney General's Office rejected both arguments, finding that simply removing names would not adequately protect student privacy when a person with knowledge of the situation could re-identify individuals through context. [CASK is a nonprofit funded by federal, state and local government sources](https://www.casoky.org/about-us) that operates Head Start programs providing early childhood education and family engagement services. The organization's Head Start program receives federal funding, requiring compliance with FERPA. The decision noted that federal law protections cannot be waived even when employees request records directly related to their employment. Kentucky law specifically exempts records made confidential by federal statute from mandatory employee access provisions. Craddick may appeal the decision in circuit court within 30 days of the May 28 ruling, the attorney general's office said. ## Sources - [KY Attorney General Open Records](https://www.ag.ky.gov/Resources/orom/2026/26-ORD-241.pdf) - [Community Action of Southern Kentucky official website](https://www.casoky.org/) - [About Community Action of Southern Kentucky](https://www.casoky.org/about-us) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from KY Attorney General Open Records, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://www.ag.ky.gov/Resources/orom/2026/26-ORD-241.pdf.