• Identification

    The Federal NCLB-Title III Act and the lllinois School Code require that each school district administer a Home Language Survey to every student entering the district's schools for the first time for the purpose of identifying students of a "non-English background". According to lllinois School Code, students of non-English background are students, whether born in the United States or born elsewhere, whose native language is other than English or who come from homes where a language other than English is spoken. The Home Language Survey must ask the following 2 questions: 

    1. Is a language other than English spoken in your home? If yes, what language? 
    2. Does this student speak a language other than English? If the answer to either question is YES, the student is identified as having a non-English background. 

    If the answer to either question is YES, the student is identified as having a non-English background.

    Assessment

    1. All students in grades Kindergarten through 12 identified through the Home Language Survey as having a non-English background must be assessed using the WIDA Screener Placement Test to determine eligibility for ELL Program services. A teacher who is a certified ACCESS Test Administrator must administer the WIDA Screener. This assessment must occur within 30 days of the student's enrollment in the district at the beginning of the school year or within 14 days of enrollment during the school year. 
    2. If a student transfers in from another school district and has a WIDA Screener or ACCESS scores that are less than 12 months old, those scores can be used to determine eligibility and the student does not need to be re-assessed.

    Placement

    1. A student whose overall score on the WIDA Screener does not meet the minimum score required to be considered "proficient" as defined by the State Superintendent of Schools is considered to be limited English proficient and must be enrolled in and receive services from the ELL Program. (See Entry and Exit Criteria)
    2. A student whose overall score on the WIDA Screener does meet the minimum score required to be considered "proficient" as defined by the State Superintendent of Schools is not enrolled in the ELL Program. (See Entry and Exit Criteria)

    Parental Notification

    Parents must be notified by mail that their child has been placed in the ELL Program no later than 30 days after the start of the school year or 14 days during the school year. The parent notification letter is sent in English and in the home language of the student (to the extent possible). 

    Withdrawal by Parents

    Any parent whose child has qualified for the ELL Program has the right to withdraw his child immediately by notifying the child's school or the school district in writing of his desire to withdraw his child from the program. 

    Identification of English Language Learners 

    1. Home Language Survey: A language other than English is spoken in the house.
    2. WIDA Screener below 5 overall composite: Enroll in ELL
    3. Qualify through Spanish LAS
    4. Enroll in Transitional Bilingual Program or ESL Program