Better Government Association v. City Colleges of Chicago

Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Freedom of Information Act
Citation
Case Number: 
2024 IL App (1st) 221414
Decision Date: 
Thursday, September 19, 2024
District: 
1st Dist.
Division/County: 
4th Div./Cook Co.
Holding: 
Reversed and remanded.
Justice: 
LYLE

Plaintiff filed a lawsuit pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, seeking education records related to the defendant’s student graduation rate. The defendant had denied to turn over the records on the basis that they were exempt from disclosure under section 7(1)(a) of FOIA and under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The circuit court disagreed and granted summary judgment in favor of the plaintiff and defendant appealed. The appellate court reversed and remanded, instructing the circuit court to conduct an in camera inspection of the records and to oversee the redaction of the records to remove any personally identifiable information from the requested education records. (MITCHELL and MIKVA, concurring)