• Multilingual Learners Overview

    Indian Prairie School District 204 values the linguistic and cultural diversity that our students bring to our schools.

    • Approximately 41% of our students come from homes where a language other than English is spoken.
    • More than 129 different languages are spoken in the homes of our students.

    Slightly more than 15% of our students are English Learners and are provided specialized services through the Multilingual Learners (ML) Program.

    The District 204 ML Program has two components:

    • English as a Second Language (ESL)
    • Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE)

    English Learners are assigned to a general education classroom and receive specialized instruction from an ESL and/or Bilingual teacher. The amount of ML instruction a student receives is based upon his level of English Language Proficiency.

    English as a Second Language (Transitional Program of Instruction)

    English as a Second Language (ESL) services are offered at schools in which there are 19 or fewer Limited English Proficient (LEP) students of the same language group.

    The goals of the ESL program are:

    • To develop English skills while learning grade-appropriate academic content.
    • To develop academic English language proficiency, to assist students in meeting Illinois Learning Standards as well as the Illinois English Language Proficiency Standards.

    ESL instruction focuses on the development of both social and academic language in all four language domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.

    Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE)

    In accordance with the Illinois School Code, schools in which there are 20 or more Limited English Proficient (LEP) students of the same language group offer a Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) program for those students. 

    The goals of the TBE program are:

    • To develop English skills while learning grade-appropriate academic content.
    • To develop academic English language proficiency, to assist students in meeting Illinois Learning Standards as well as Illinois English Language Proficiency Standards.
    • To provide native language instruction and support while transitioning to proficiency in English. 

    Students in the TBE program receive ESL instruction as well as native literacy instruction and/or native language support.