School District U-46 welcomes all families to our learning community.  We provide services to meet the linguistic and academic needs of children whose native language is not English.  Because of U-46’s location in the Fox Valley and the communities it serves, children from over 60 different language backgrounds are represented in our classrooms. Hispanic students comprise the vast majority followed by Laotian and Polish students.  U-46 has the second largest ESL/Bilingual Program in the State of Illinois outside the city of Chicago. 

All students who exit an English Language Learner Program will meet or exceed achievement standards in General Education classes.

The mission of the English Language Learner Program is to prepare students to acquire academic language proficiency skills and promote student achievement.

Program Goal and Objectives    1.     Use student’s’ first language as a vehicle to accelerate in a developmentally appropriate way their English acquisition as early as possible. 2.     Provide explicit instruction that fosters academic growth and success within the General Education environment. 3.     Provide transition opportunities and support for ELL students who are ready to participate in the General Education Program. 4.     Provide exposure and interaction with academic English language models through interactions within the school community. 5.     Share and create awareness and understanding of diverse cultures.

 Objectives

Instruction for ELLs will parallel the appropriate grade level curriculum and will align with the Illinois Learning Standards, the District’s Curriculum Roadmap for Literacy and Mathematics, and the English Language Proficiency Standards for English Language Learners in Illinois (WIDA). 

ELLs will receive instruction in receptive and expressive English language development beginning with initial enrollment in the district and as determined by an individual student language proficiency assessment.

• understanding of the goals and objectives of the ELL program
• understanding of individual and cultural diversity
• instructional strategies to support English language learners
   

• Promote understanding of and respect for cultural and linguistic diversity of students, parents, staff and community.
• Provide instruction that builds on students’ cognitive abilities and prior education that will enable students to achieve high standards.
• Provide instruction for students in the most appropriate setting according to students’ needs, state and district guidelines.
• Emphasize English language development and content area learning at every grade level, Pre-K thru 12.
• Use native language instruction to develop a deeper conceptual and linguistic proficiency that is strongly related to the development of literacy in the English language.
• Use native language instruction, as available, to access content area curriculum while simultaneously providing English language instruction.
• Provide ongoing, consistent district-wide assessment of students that reflects the stages of English language acquisition.
• Evaluate student achievement data and make program adjustments to continually improve student learning.
• Develop and maintain services in the areas of special needs, gifted, and at-risk students.
• Support and expand early childhood and family literacy programs.
• Develop teaching competencies through comprehensive professional development based on best practices for English Language Learners and educator professional standards.