Dupage Policy Journal

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Benjamin School District 25 on January 13, 2025, by the DuPage Policy Journal. The request sought information about the number of non-U.S. citizens currently enrolled in the school district.

As a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at the DuPage Policy Journal believe that access to public records is crucial for our work. This information allows us to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to the public.

In our request, we specifically asked for the number of "migrants" (e.g., illegal aliens/non-U.S. citizens) currently enrolled in Benjamin School District 25. We requested this data under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, preferably in an electronic format.

To put this request into context, 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 worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

We continue to seek this kind of information as part of our ongoing commitment to providing accurate and transparent reporting on issues affecting our local schools and communities.