This area gives helpful information to English Language Learners and their families, including resources and helpful websites.
District 205 has two transitional programs for English Language Learners who need language and content assistance. A screening and testing program qualify students for these programs, general characteristics include:
- a language other than English is spoken in the home on a daily basis
- the student’s English language development is limited
The Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI) serves students from different language backgrounds. Instruction is usually given in English, but at a level that the student can comprehend. The program helps students transition into the mainstream program as soon as they can succeed on their own.
The Transitional Bilingual Program (TBE) in District 205 uses Spanish as the native language to instruct students who are limited in English proficiency. The amount of native language instruction is determined based on each individual student's English language proficiency.
Identifying English Language Learners (ELL)
According to Illinois Administrative School Code, each district in the state is required to screen all new, enrolling students who have been determined to have a language other than English used in the home. Once an additional language has been indicated, the district is obligated to screen any school-aged students of that family with the state mandated screening instrument. The results of the screening instrument are used to determine English Language level, and subsequently, eligibility for ELL services.
Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI)
Elmhurst 205 offers English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction in all schools that house ELL students. ESL instruction is currently named Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI). Buildings that offer TPI have ELLs of various backgrounds, but do not have greater than 19 students of the same language.
TPI occurs in different manners in each building, depending upon the number of ELLs in the building, the number of available staff for working with ELLs, and the students’ English levels. Generally, ELL students are pulled out from traditional classes to receive intense English instruction.
The purpose of this program is to provide structured, intense English instruction so that students will be prepared to eventually transition to traditional classrooms with limited or no English language support.
Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE)
Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) must be offered in attendance centers with 20 or more students of the same language. Currently, Fischer Elementary qualifies for TBE programming, and has 4 Bilingual Spanish speaking teachers assigned to it. However, almost all district schools employee a Spanish speaking ELL teacher.
TBE occurs in either self-contained classes, or as a pull-out program, depending on students’ levels of English. Instruction is given mostly in the first language, but more English is used as students’ English understanding increases.
The purpose of this program is to promote learning of academic content while acquiring English. Once again, the goal is to transition students to a traditional English speaking classroom with limited or no language support.
In both types of programs, students are entitled to 3 years of enrollment, but actual duration of services varies, depending on student performance on state mandated assessments.