Dupage Policy Journal

On January 13, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Salt Creek School District 48 in Illinois by the DuPage Policy Journal. The request seeks to obtain information about the number of non-U.S. citizens, often referred to as "migrants" or "illegal aliens," currently enrolled in the school district.

The DuPage Policy Journal, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, made this request under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. As a media outlet, we are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

In addition to requesting these enrollment numbers, we have also asked for a fee waiver due to our role as a media professional disseminating information.

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. Furthermore, it's noteworthy that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

We believe that access to this information will help shed light on how many non-U.S. citizens are being educated within our local school districts and how resources are being allocated towards their education.