On January 13, 2025, we at North Cook News sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Sunset Ridge School District 29 in Illinois. The request was specifically aimed at obtaining 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 believe it is crucial to have access to such public records. This enables us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
The specific information requested pertains to the enrollment numbers of "migrants" or non-U.S. citizens within the school district. We believe that this data will provide valuable insights into the demographics of our local schools and contribute towards a more informed public discourse on education policy.
In addition to this request, it's important to note some key statistics about education in Illinois. 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, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
As we continue our mission of providing accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we hope that our FOIA request will shed light on important aspects of our educational system and contribute positively towards public understanding and discussion.
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