Sangamon Sun

On January 28, 2025, we at Sangamon Sun sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Springfield School District 186. The request was for copies of all emails and memos from the past 12 months that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”.

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

The requested information is expected to shed light on internal communications within the school district concerning Lucy Calkins, an influential figure in literacy education, and her curriculum "Units of Study". This curriculum has been widely adopted across various schools in Illinois.

In relation to this, it's worth noting some statistics about education in Illinois. According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while the state average administrative salary was $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio stands at 141:1, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. Furthermore, it's reported that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

As part of our commitment as a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional. We will continue striving towards providing transparency and holding public institutions accountable through such actions.