Our Program at a Glance:

Approximately 550 students receive English language instruction; the students at CRSD speak over 20 different languages. The top three languages spoken are Arabic, Spanish, and Polish. Our goal is to provide an accessible curriculum that is equitable and meets the academic grade level while students become proficient English speakers.

Per Illinois Administrative Code 228.30, the following programs and supports must be in place for English learners to access their education.

Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI) - is offered to those students who have 19 or fewer of the same language, also known as English as a Second Language. During ESL classes, teachers differentiate grade-level instruction to make it comprehensible to English Learners. The program is taught by teachers who have an ESL or Bilingual endorsement. Students are placed in a general education program for the majority of the day, with the EL teacher working collaboratively to meet the students' needs alongside the classroom teacher. Students receive pull-out and push-in services. In the pull-out model, students receive extra support in the four domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English in the ELL classroom for a portion of the day. The push-in model provides extra support for the ELL student in the general education classroom through the assistance of the EL teacher. In this model, the EL teacher provides language support as needed by the student in the four domains within the context of the content area being instructed.

Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE)- Bilingual programs are offered when 20 or more students of the same language have been identified as limited English proficiency based on the prescribed screening instruments. TBE full-time program provides instruction in the native language and English by a Bilingual teacher. Students receive full-time or part-time services based on students’ needs and delivered as either push-in or pull-out services. Students may qualify for TBE part-time using the state-determined Part-time TBE criteria. Our district provides a part-time TBE program model using push-in-and pull-out services in which the students receive instruction in English and in the student’s home language as determined by the students’ needs.

The Newcomer Program

The Newcomer Program is a short-term program that teaches English and acculturation to U.S. schools, as well as academic subjects. The Newcomer Program is for students who are recent immigrants to the United States, with limited to no English proficiency. Students receive instruction at their grade level in the academic subjects required for promotion with a Transitional Bilingual Certified teacher. This program is available for students in grades 6th – 8th.