Currently the TPI (Transitional Program of Instruction) and Polish Bilingual programs at our schools includes 152 students of 12 different language backgrounds at the four buildings. There are 34 languages spoken throughout the district. The largest language groups consist of Polish, Lithuanian and Spanish. The children are identified at five different levels of proficiency which range from non-speaking (students who have limited English) to children who are fluent and soon to be exited.
All students new to District 113A who have been identified as having a language other than English spoken in the home will be assessed using the state mandated WIDA screener .
We monitor the progress of English language proficiency through a formal assessment (ACCESS) provided by the State of Illinois. This assessment monitors student progress in four domains: reading, writing, speaking and listening. The ACCESS is a state mandated test given on a yearly basis every January to all students in grades K – 8 identified as having limited English proficiency.
As a district we respect the cultural diversity in our schools, promote pride in culture, and support and encourage native language usage at home. We believe that our TPI and Polish Bilingual programs will provide additional support to promote academic success and develop a lifelong love of learning.