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Sunday, August 3, 2025

Hartsburg Emden Community Unit School District 21 students suspended 4 times in 2023-24 school year

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Tony Sanders State Superintendent of Education | Official Website

Tony Sanders State Superintendent of Education | Official Website

Hartsburg Emden Community Unit School District 21 reported four suspensions during the 2023-24 school year, according to the Illinois Report Card.

In total, there were four disciplinary actions recorded during the school year, representing a rate of approximately 2.3 incidents per 100 of the district’s enrolled students.

Among in-school suspension where a reason was specified, the only case was given for incident involving tobacco. Additionally, three cases were classified under "other reason" or left unspecified.

Only male students were subject to disciplinary actions, a rate of approximately 0.5 incidents per 10 male students.

Of all suspensions issued in the district, one involved elementary or middle school student, while three involved high school students.

All of the students suspended during the 2023-24 school year in Hartsburg Emden Community Unit School District 21 were white, who made up 96.5% of the district’s student population.

Illinois has approved a 2025 budget that allocates $8.6 billion to K-12 education, a $350 million increase from the previous fiscal year—the minimum required under the state funding formula.

In 2024, Illinois registered a teacher retention rate of almost 90%. Yet, around 91% of superintendents reported having a 'serious' problem teacher shortage problem. In total, almost 4,100 teaching positions remained vacant by the end of the year.

“They’re putting a substitute in there, that’s somebody with a four-year degree that’s not in teaching. They’re using a retired teacher…or worse than that, they’re canceling the class, putting the kids in other classrooms, putting them in study hall, but those are strategies we have to use if there’s no qualified teacher,” said Beth Crider, regional superintendent of Peoria County Regional Office of Education #48.

Hartsburg Emden Community Unit School District 21 Student Discipline Report
Type of IncidentIn-School SuspensionOut-of-School Suspension
Alcohol--
Violence with injury--
Violence without injury--
Drug offenses--
Firearm--
Other dangerous weapons--
Tobacco1-
Other reason3-
Total4-
Length of Suspensions
DurationIn-School SuspensionOut-of-School Suspension
One day or less--
1-2 days4-
2-3 days--
3-4 days--
4-10 days--
More than 10 days--

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