Sangamon Sun

On January 13, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Oak Park - River Forest School District 200 in Illinois by our team at Sangamon Sun. The request sought specific information about the number of non-U.S. citizens, often referred to as "migrants" or "illegal aliens," currently enrolled in the school district.

As a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe that access to public records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

The FOIA request also mentioned that given our role in disseminating information, we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.

To provide context for this inquiry, it's important to consider some key data about education in Illinois. According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, and the state average Administrative Salary was $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio is 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Interestingly, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

These figures underscore the significant resources invested in education within the state and highlight why it's crucial to understand all aspects of enrollment data—including that of non-U.S. citizens—in order to ensure these resources are being used effectively and equitably.

We await further information from Oak Park - River Forest School District 200 regarding this request.