MULTILINGUAL PROGRAMS

The vision of District 45 is to prepare students to successfully navigate a dynamic world. Bilingualism, the development of language and literacy skills in both English and a home language, is an academic advantage to equip children to navigate our globally connected society. We want D45 English learners to see bilingualism as an asset to their future. English learners enter our schools with incredible strengths having come from a home where another language is spoken. We want to build on those strengths. In D45, we believe language and literacy, embedded in a rigorous and relevant curriculum, will help children fully develop their capacities to read, write, speak, listen, and use language strategically and effectively.

English Learners and Language Development at D45

Who are English Learners (ELs)?
English learners are multilingual students who enter school speaking English and one or more home languages. These students receive instructional support in developing the academic language skills needed for school success. In D45, we value the rich cultural and linguistic strengths of our English learners.

How many EL students are there in District 45?
English learners make up 25% of our population in District 45. We have approximately 850 students identified as ELs in our multilingual programs. 75% of our English learners have Spanish as their home language.

How are students identified for the Multilingual Programs?
When families register their child for school, completion of a Home Language Survey is included. If another language is spoken in the home and/or spoken by the child, all Illinois school districts are required by the State to screen students for English language proficiency. The screener measures the student’s ability to listen, speak, read and write in the English language. Students whose scores qualify them are invited to participate in one of our multilingual programs.

How long does it take to learn another language?
The most comprehensive research on language learning has been completed by Wayne Thomas & Virginia Collier, professors emeritus, George Mason University. Thomas & Collier studied the language acquisition of 7.5 million English learners over 32 years and across sixteen states. In their findings, Thomas & Collier found that the most significant variable in how long it takes to learn English is the amount of formal schooling students have received in their first language. They found that it typically takes between 5-9 years to learn another language academically (Thomas & Collier, 1997). It takes 5 years or less for students with a solid foundation in their first language and up to 9 years or more for students whose foundational language development was inconsistent.

Our full-time transitional bilingual education (TBE) program in District 45, although being transitoinal after third grade, has a content allocation plan to help K-3rd bilingual teachers know how to balance English and Spanish instruction. It provides consistency between bilingual programs across the district and supports students in learning both of their languages.

Students in the EL program, part-time TBE and TPI (transitional program of instruction) students, receive support in their English development with the support gradually released as the child acquires English and attains higher levels of English proficiency.
Every child is different and regardless of the type of multilingual program, some students take less than 5 years to acquire English and others take longer.

How do we know if our ELs are making progress in the English language?

All English learners in Illinois public schools grades K-12 must be assessed annually for English proficiency growth and academic progress. Every year, the ACCESS for ELLs exam is used to assess English language proficiency while the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) exam is used to assess academic achievement in English.

As a district, we also use local measures to monitor the academic progress of all learners. ELL teachers, bilingual teachers, and general education teachers work collaboratively to ensure English learners are showing growth in English.

How can parents help their children learn?
Students who can speak, read and write in their home language will learn English more quickly. You don’t need to teach reading twice. The home language skills transfer. A solid foundation in the home language will help children to learn a new language because they transfer what they know.

Parents can help by:

• Promoting the advantages of being bilingual
• Reading stories or telling stories to or with your child at home within the language you feel most comfortable
• Using your home language to discuss the academic topics like math, science or social science, which are taught at school
• Being patient and supportive; developing a second language for academics takes time, effort and understanding
• Taking your child to museums, theaters, libraries, and parks
• Keeping in contact with your child’s teachers and school
• Encouraging your child to participate in after-school activities
• Celebrating and acknowledging the growth your child makes in both languages

BPAC (Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee)

A leadership group of bilingual parents who help to organize parent learning opportunities for all bilingual parents in our D45 community.

Current leadership members by school

• Ardmore: Sra. Fabiola Gomez
• North: Sra. Vicky Arenas, President
• Schafer: Sra. Olga Tapia
• Stevenson: Mrs. Komal Goyal
• York Center: Sra. Sara Hernandez & Sra. Francisca Diaz
• Westmore: Mrs. Maria Moreno
• Jackson: Sra. Carmen Lopez
• Jefferson: Mrs. Marie Motyckova
• D45: Mrs. Mia Bohlin; Mrs. Leticia Carmona, Secretary; Mrs. Lisa Speakman, Ms. Bianca Diaz
• Community member: Sra Maria Puga, Vice President

Related links for families

WIDA

• My Child is an ELL Video Series
• Mi hijo(a) es un aprendiz del inglés videos
• Introducing WIDA
• Introduciendo a WIDA
• Learning Language Every Day: Activities for families
  • English
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese

ESL Online Resources

• Reading Tips for Parents (in Multiple Languages)
• Parent Guide for English Learners
• English Media Lab
• How Parents Help Their ESL Children Learn English

Spanish online resources

• ¡Colorín colorado!
• La serie de Ayudando a su niño
• Poder de los padres
• Las ventajas de ser bilingüe