District 65 uses several program models to support students in learning English. To learn where these programs are offered, please see our Program Models tab. Below are some key terms to understand what’s offered at D65:
English Language Learner (EL) - Any student whose home language background is a language other than English and whose proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, or understanding English is not yet sufficient to provide the student with the opportunity to fully succeed in classrooms where the language of instruction is English.
English as a Second Language (ESL) - Instruction that specializes in helping non-native English speakers learn the formal grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation of spoken and written English, while giving them confidence in the common usage of the language in order to communicate clearly and comfortably in English.
Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI) - In this model, EL students are in English-only classrooms and receive services from an ESL teacher, who collaborates with classroom teachers to meet the needs of the students in growing their English Language proficiency.
Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) - In this model, TBE programs provide instruction in both the home language and English in the core subject areas (language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies), as well as instruction in English as a second language (ESL). TBE services must also include instruction on the history of the student’s or the parents’ native land and the United States. This is a required model by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) if a school has more than 20 students with the same native language. D65 uses Dual Language programs to provide TBE services to native Spanish-speaking EL students.
Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) Part-time - A part-time TBE program has components of a full-time program which means EL students have daily instruction in English and in the home language as determined by student’s needs.
Dual Language Programs
Dual Language programs are designed to promote academic development, language proficiency in two languages, and cross-cultural understanding. D65 uses programs under the Dual Language umbrella to provide Transitional Bilingual supports to Spanish speaking ELs.
- Developmental Bilingual - This program is designed to develop both Spanish and English for English Learners (EL). These students move in/out of Spanish and English classrooms. District 65 offers a developmental bilingual program model in middle school through Spanish Language Arts.
- Spanish Language Arts (SLA) - the program used in District 65 middle schools to support native Spanish-speaking EL students. This is considered a part-time TBE program. Students have one class block of SLA and receive ESL supports during the school day in other content areas (science, math, social studies). All students who have participated in the TWI program up to the 5th grade can enroll in an SLA class.
- One-Way Immersion - This program is designed for EL students who share the same home language and have varying proficiency in both Spanish and English with the goal of bilingualism and biliteracy. This is the model currently used in the D65 program at Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center.
- Two-Way Immersion (TWI) - In TWI classrooms (K- 5th grade), native Spanish-speaking EL students and native English language speakers are brought together to develop high levels of listening, speaking, reading, and writing ability in Spanish and English. Neither group of students will have to forego development in the native language as second language proficiency improves. Most students enter the program in kindergarten; however, Spanish-speaking EL students who enroll in the District can join the TWI program at any grade level.
- Dual Language Middle School (DLMS) - The Middle School Dual Language program is eligible for students in grades 6-8 who were formally in TWI in grades K-5; students coming into D65 who were enrolled in a Dual Language program (K-8) at another district; and newcomers from Spanish-speaking countries. The goal of this program is to continue the dual language immersion program to become fully bilingual and biliterate, achieve high levels of academic achievement, and develop social-cultural competencies to develop cultural awareness and appreciation of other cultures. In this program students will learn Math, Science and SLA in Spanish and they will learn Social Studies, English Language Arts and Arts in English.
