Chicago Reporter (https://www.chicagoreporter.com/tag/bilingual-education/)
New contracts at Acero and the Chicago International Charter School network enshrine protections for undocumented students and take steps toward stronger bilingual services and increasing teacher diversity.
Many bilingual programs are violating state law by failing to provide adequate services to the district’s growing share of students whose native language is not English.
Muchos programas bilingües no cumplen la ley porque ofrecen servicios inadecuados al creciente porcentaje de alumnos cuyos idiomas natales no son inglés.
Five elementary schools are starting programs that will teach children in both English and Spanish, an approach that has gained traction across the country. Community groups played a role in lobbying for the programs.
Tens of millions of dollars in federal grants are helping Illinois expand preschool access and transform teacher prep programs to produce more educators who specialize in high-need areas. But it’s unclear if the state will step up its funding levels when the federal money runs out.
CPS officials are preparing to launch an all-school audit of English-learner services in the fall. A recent state audit of 22 schools provides a preview: Many of the compliance issues facing the district are the same ones that have plagued it for decades: inadequate programming and instructional materials for students learning English.
CPS charter schools are moving at varying paces to come into compliance with a new state law regarding English-language learner education — from spending nearly a year planning to quickly offering to pay teachers to obtain necessary credentials.
The UNO Charter School Network has done comparatively little to come into compliance with a state law that requires charters to provide English-language learners with specialized supports — despite the fact UCSN serves more of these students than any other charter network.
Citing longstanding issues, outgoing interim CEO Jesse Ruiz says CPS will audit funding and programming for English language learners at all schools, including charters. UNO schools are already under scrutiny, though officials question the district’s motives.
For parents whose children are not native English speakers, the cloud of doubt surrounding the new PARCC test is doubly worrying.