Elmhurst District 205
Community Forum on English Language Learners
The
Elmhurst area continues to be an attractive place for people from around the
world to live and raise their children, resulting in a steady increase in the
number of culturally and linguistically diverse students who come to District
205 schools. In addition to our District mission and vision of “equitable education for all and success
in a global society,” there exist several state and federal regulations that support
these learners and ensure their educational needs are met, so they can emerge
college and/or career ready. Achieving this goal will open and broaden future
opportunities for all District 205 students.
Over
the past few decades, there have been many changes in the nation’s approach to
English Language Learners (ELL) and new research has come to light on how to best
serve these children for long-term success. In order to explain the programs
available to English Language Learners, to apprise the community of pertinent
state and federal regulations, and to hear about ELL best practices in other
school districts, Elmhurst District 205 will host an English Language Learner
Forum, open to the entire community, on February 25, from 7 to 9 PM in the District
205 Center, 162 S. York, Elmhurst.
In
this meeting, attendees will learn about the rules and regulations that govern
English Language Learner instruction in our state. Additionally, information
about preparing these children for college will also be shared. Experiences
from districts with robust ELL programs will be presented, along with the
experiences of several District 205 staff, students and former students. Participants
will have the opportunity to ask questions of the panel and to offer responses
to some questions facing our community.
We hope you will join us.
The
February 25 agenda is as follows:
·
Purpose, Format and
Current District ELL Performance Results
Dr. Charles Johns – Assistant
Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Elmhurst CUSD 205
·
Rules, Regulations
and Research Results
Dr.
Ngoc-Diep Nguyen – School of Education, Northeastern University
·
Programs in Other Districts
Rosa Ascharya – Principal – St. Charles SD 303
Keely
Krueger – Director of Grants, Language and Culture – Woodstock CUSD 200
·
A Few Perspectives from District 205 Faculty
Cheryl
Freiberger – Churchville Middle School ELL teacher
Patricia
Meza – Hawthorne Elementary ELL Teacher
·
Perspective From Former and Current District 205 ELL
Students
Former
Students
Dominick
Lipinski – Poland – current career in insurance
Bujar
Sadiku – Albania – studying at COD, applying to UIC
Current
Students:
Sofia
Suanno – Italy– currently enrolled in ELL courses
Jessica
Madgay – Phillipines
Ramzi
Hamarhen – Jordan
·
Questions and Answers
·
Interactive Survey
·
Comment Collection