North Cook News

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Avoca School District 37 in Illinois on January 28, 2025. The request, issued by North Cook News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, seeks access to all emails and memos from the past year containing the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."

As a news organization, we at North Cook News are committed to holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency for the public. Access to these records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.

The specific documents requested are integral to our ongoing investigation into local educational practices and policies. The terms "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study" refer to an influential literacy curriculum that has been widely adopted across various school districts.

According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while the state average administrative salary was $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio stands at 141:1, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. Interestingly, over half (58%) of teachers in Illinois hold a master's degree or higher.

As we continue our work in providing comprehensive coverage of local government affairs, we appreciate the cooperation of public institutions like Avoca School District 37 in honoring these requests promptly and thoroughly.