English Learners FAQ's

English Learners (ELs) are students whose primary language is not English and who are in the process of developing proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English. They may be recent immigrants or U.S.-born students who are growing up in homes where a language other than English is spoken.

We have approximately 439 students in our EL programs. 

When registering for the first time in District 140, families are given a Home Language Survey. If parents note that the family speaks a language other than English at home, or that the child speaks a language other than English, the district is required by the State to screen students for the EL programs. Teachers will use grade-level WIDA Screeners to assess students on listening, speaking, reading, and writing in the English language. If the student qualifies for an EL program, the family will be notified.

District 140 offers Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) - Arabic at all seven buildings and Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI) - all languages at all seven buildings. 

TBE 

• The TBE program is implemented when 20 or more students in a building share the same native language and qualify for English Learner services. 
• Instruction is delivered in both the students’ native language and English, with the amount of native language support adjusted based on each student’s individual needs. 
• Students participating in the TBE program spend the majority of the school day in the general education classroom and also receive support from a certified Bilingual teacher who is fluent in the identified native language. 
• Instruction in the history and culture of the country, territory, or geographic area that is the native land of the students, and the history and culture of the United States.
• The goal of this program is to ensure that students develop academic skills while acquiring English language proficiency.

TPI

• The TPI program (EL services) supports students by differentiating grade-level instruction to make academic content accessible while developing English language proficiency.
• EL instruction is delivered in English with native language support and focuses on both academic and language development.
• Students participating in the TPI program (EL services) remain in the general education classroom for the majority of the school day and also receive support from an ESL-endorsed teacher and/or certified Bilingual teacher.
• The goal of this program is to ensure students successfully engage with grade-level curriculum while acquiring the English skills necessary for long-term academic success.

All English learners in K-12 must be assessed annually for English proficiency growth and academic progress. The ACCESS test is used to assess English language proficiency, while the IAR test is used to assess academic achievement in English.

As a district, we use a variety of academic measures to monitor the progress of all learners. In order to make sure students are on track with their learning, we use local assessments to measure growth. The EL teachers and General Education teachers work collaboratively using NWEA MAP to make sure students are meeting their growth targets throughout the school year. 

Please contact our EL/Title I Coordinator Mrs.Michelle O'Connor via email or phone at 708-532-6462 or email your student's EL or EL/Bilingual teacher by clicking on their name below. 

• EL Facilitator: Mrs. E. McCall
• Bannes: Ms. S. Ashour and Ms. K. Schouten 
• Fernway: Ms. L. Doria and Ms. F. Yasin
• McAuliffe: Ms. M. Beniac and Ms. M. Yafaie
• Millennium:  Mrs. K. Bressanelli and Ms. A. Salem
• Keller: Ms. R. Assad and Ms. G. Gabor 
• Grissom: Ms. N. Haddad and Mrs. R. Matariyeh  
• Prairie View: Ms. Y. Elayyan and Ms. L. Hasan