Language and Culture

Welcome and Assessment Center

In an effort to provide appropriate instruction for all students, the state of Illinois requires that any student who speaks a language other than English or lives in a home where a language other than English is spoken be given an English language screening assessment. The purpose of the assessment is to determine if the student qualifies for the English Learner (EL) support program.

Learn more by visiting the Assessment Center page.

English Learner Support

Support for English Learners in District 54 may be provided in two ways, either through the EL Resource Program or through one of our Dual Language or Immersion programs. For more information about how English Learners are supported in District 54 and the testing process for incoming Kindergarten students, please watch the video in your preferred language:

English Learner Support Video (English) English Learner Support Video (Spanish)

English Learner Support Video (Polish) English Learner Support Video (Japanese)

Please contact the Language and Culture Department if you need information about English Learner Support in another language different than those listed above.

English Learner (EL) Resource Program

Students that qualify for program services through an English language proficiency screening receive language support at their base school.

Students receive varying levels of language and content support based on their English proficiency level, as well as their academic and language needs. The majority of the instruction takes place in the general education classroom with push-in support from the English Learner (EL) resource teacher during guided reading or writing time.

To learn more about the English Learner Resource Program, including recordings from the most recent English Learner Kindergarten Night, visit the EL Resource Program page.

Dual Language and Immersion

Dual Language and Immersion are programs of choice that are available for all students in District 54. Dual Language classes at the elementary level are composed of approximately 50% English or other language proficient students and 50% Spanish or Japanese-proficient students. Chinese Immersion is a one-way immersion experience where the vast majority of students have no prior experience or proficiency in the Chinese language. Dual Language and Chinese Immersion teachers and the English partner teachers foster high academic achievement by teaching the two target languages through content. These programs seek to develop academic and cultural competence and bilingualism for students from kindergarten through eighth grad

Learn more by visiting the Dual Language and Immersion Programs page.

World Languages

Students can select Spanish as a World Language elective at the junior high level. Classes include Spanish 1 and 2, Honors Spanish 1, and Pre-AP Spanish and Japanese.

Learn more by visiting the Junior High World Language Electives page.

Multicultural Parent Advisory Council

You are invited to be a part of the Multicultural Parent Advisory Council (MPAC), a group of parents, community members and staff who work together to support students in the District 54 English Learner (EL) program and their families.

The goals of MPAC are

To provide programmatic advice and recommendations to the Department of Language and Culture;
To provide leadership and support to families of students in the District 54 English learner program;
To serve as a communication link between District 54 staff and families; and
To plan and help implement parent education and involvement activities to support teaching and learning activities of all District 54 students.

Additional Resources

Colorin Colorado Website for English Learners Illinois Board of Education - EL Resources Illinois English Language Proficiency Standards Basics of Remote Learning in Spanish Dual Language & Immersion Parent Support Videos

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