Dupage Policy Journal

On January 13, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Villa Park School District 45 by the DuPage Policy Journal. The request seeks to obtain information regarding the number of non-U.S. citizens currently enrolled in the school district.

As representatives from DuPage Policy Journal, we are committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. This request was made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, and we have expressed our preference for receiving this information in an electronic format.

The request specifically asks for data on how many "migrants" (e.g., illegal aliens/non-U.S. citizens) are currently enrolled in the school district. We believe that access to such public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

Given our role in disseminating information, we have also requested a fee waiver as media professionals.

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, it has been reported that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

We await a response from Villa Park School District 45 and will continue our efforts to bring light to issues affecting our community.