Frequently Asked Questions About your Children's Language Rights In Illinois Schools
Q: My child does not know English well. Does the State of Illinois have rules about how schools should help my child?
A: YES. The State of Illinois Administrative Code says that if your child does not know English well, a school must:
- teach your child to read in his/her native language;
- teach your child math, science, and social studies (i.e., any instruction other children receive) in his/her native language for at least three years;
- teach your child English;
- teach your child about the history and culture of your family’s area of origin; and
- integrate your child with English-speaking children for (at least) art, music, and physical education.
Q: How can schools do this?
A: If a school has 20 or more children who speak the same native language (who do not know English well), the school should hire bilingual teachers to teach the children reading and their subjects in their native language and also an ESL (English as a second language) teacher to teach the children English. In addition, all classroom teachers in a school should learn “sheltered instruction” techniques and about the history and culture of the origins of the families in the community. If a school has fewer than 20 children who speak the same native language and hiring bilingual teachers is not practical, the school should hire bilingual teacher aides to help teach the children reading and their subjects in their native language and also an ESL teacher to teach the children English. Again, all classroom teachers in a school should learn “sheltered instruction” techniques and about the history and culture of the origins of the families in the community.Q: Can English-speaking children receive bilingual instruction?
A: YES. The Illinois Administrative Code says that schools with bilingual programs must allow English-speaking children to participate in those programs if there is space.
Q: What rights do parents have?
A: Parents have the right to an explanation of the services offered to their children, to visit and observe bilingual and ESL classes, and, if they want, to refuse bilingual and ESL services.
Q: Does the U.S. government have laws about educating children who do not speak English well?
A: YES. U.S. federal law says that schools must do something special to help your children if they do not speak English well. It is illegal to simply submerse your children in regular classroom instruction and do nothing special for them. The law goes on to say that schools must:
- have a formalized a plan for addressing the language needs of your child;
- have the resources to carry out the plan; and
- be able to show that the plan works and that your child is performing as well as others in the school.
Q: Do other countries have bilingual education?
A: YES. There are bilingual programs throughout the world, including in Europe, Latin American, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Africa, India, and Canada.
Q: Are there international standards about language use in schools?
A: YES. The United Nations has several Articles indicating that minority children should not be denied the right to use their native language or learn about their country or civilization of origin and that minority languages and cultures should be protected.
Additionally, in its Hague Recommendations Regarding the Education Rights of National Minorities, the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) indicates that minority languages should be the medium of primary school instruction while the State language be taught as a subject and that both languages should be used in secondary schools. The guidelines go on to say: “submersion approaches whereby the curriculum is taught exclusively in the State language and minority children are integrated into classes with majority children are not in line with international standards.”
Q: Is there research about language use in schools?
A: YES. Most recent research suggests that language minority children educated in their native language at first end up with better academic AND English skills than language minority children submersed in English only.
The research also suggests that the most effective programs are dual language programs (that maintain the native language in school for at least 5 years while also introducing English) and two-way programs (that integrate English speakers in the bilingual program for a foreign language immersion experience).
Studies also suggest that English-speaking children who are placed in language immersion programs have standardized test scores that are at least as good and sometimes better than those of children not in language immersion programs, and they have the added benefit of bilingualism.
Q: What are two-way programs?
A: Two-way programs are programs that combine bilingual education for children learning English with language immersion for English-speaking children. They are also called, TWI (two-way immersion) and dual language programs. In two-way programs, all children become bilingual and learn each others’ languages.
Q: Are there two-way bilingual programs in Illinois?
A: YES. There are many two-way bilingual programs throughout northern Illinois. One of the most well-known programs in the country is the Inter-American Magnet school in Chicago. There are currently no two-way programs in southern Illinois.