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English Learners

There are approximately 63 different languages spoken within our school district. All parents or guardians of newly enrolled students complete a Home Language Survey to inform school staff of the language(s) their child speaks at home. If a student speaks a language other than English at home, we administer an assessment to measure the student’s knowledge of English. A student demonstrating the need for support in learning English is identified as an English Language Learner and provided with appropriate services. 

Programs and Services

We offer three programs for English Language Learners:

  • Dual Language Programming

  • Transitional Bilingual Education

  • English as a Second Language

Dual Language Program

Our Hawthorn Dual Language Program provide instruction in two languages, with the goal of promoting proficiency in oral and written aspects of both languages, cross cultural understandings, and high levels of academic achievement. You are invited to read more about our Hawthorn Dual Language Program here.

The Hawthorn School of Dual Language is a two-way Spanish immersion program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Goals of this program include high academic achievement, bilingualism/biliteracy, and the development of cross-cultural understandings. Students interact in their native language with English dominant and Spanish dominant peers, as classes are composed of students with both language backgrounds.  Content area instruction takes place in English and Spanish for all students within the classroom setting. This program is offered to English Language Learners and native English speakers. Additional information regarding the Hawthorn School of Dual Language is linked below. 

Elementary School Dual Language Program English/Spanish 

Students that attended the Hawthorn School of Dual Language have the option to continue their dual language educational experience at each of our middle schools. Our dual language program at the middle school level consists of a Spanish Language Arts/ Literacy Course, as well as a social studies course with content instruction in Spanish. This extended program supports continued development of both academic and language skills.  Additional information regarding the Middle School Dual Language Program is linked below. 

Middle School Dual Language Program English/Spanish

Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE)

When there are 20 or more students that speak the same language, the state requires school districts to provide instruction in English and the home language of the students.  The goal of this program is to support students' in their home language while they fully transition to English-only instruction. Currently, Lincoln School has a designated classroom supporting students in Spanish and English. Additional TBE programs are located within each of our schools and services provided in a pull-out model. Each of these TBE programs provide language support in Spanish and English, with the  exception of Townline School. The Townline TBE program supports students in Russian and English. 

As students’ English improves, they spend more time learning in English and less time learning in their home language. Students exit the program when they are no longer identified as English Language Learners.

English as a New Language

The English as a New Language (ENL) program was formerly called English as a Second Language (ESL). The goal of the program is to provide instruction in English with support in the student's home language until they become English proficient. Students from many different language backgrounds are taught together, and English may be the only common language among them. All of our schools have an ENL program.