Bilingual/ESL

Several measures are in place to ensure the success of our program. Our students take core assessments that we use to track their development of skills in English acquisition as well as their academic ability in their core classes. This data is used to track trends and guide instruction. On a large scale, we are measured by the ACCESS and the PSAE. The ACCESS is given annually in January and February and is used to measure a student’s language development. For the past two years we have made the Annual Measure of Achievement Objectives (AMAO) in language proficiency. This means that our students are making large strides in their second language acquisition. Our students are now also taking the Prairie State Achievement Exam which is how we track the district’s progress in meeting guidelines set by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Language affairs, the role of bilingual education is grounded in two knowledge-based principles:

1. All children can engage in complex thinking tasks.
2. Developing and maintaining the student’s native language in no way interferes with English language acquisition. On the contrary, research over the last decade in bilingual classrooms with established models of instructional excellence indicates that utilization and facility in the primary language enhances the acquisition of a second language. 

The benefits of the bilingual education learning, not only allows students the opportunity to become Bilingual but Bi-cultural, truly understanding the values and society of more than one culture.

At Joliet Township, we also provide students with the opportunity to earn the Seal of Biliteracy by showing language proficiency in English and the student’s native language. The Seal of Biliteracy can earn post-secondary college credit while also being placed on a student’s transcripts which can be used for college admissions or for future employment. 

We have appropriately trained personnel in our ESL and Bilingual courses. Our teachers consistently participate in professional development that allows them to bring new and modern methods of working with ELLs. 

For students, we offer weekly tutoring to help students develop language skills while also working on content in their core areas. Credit recovery options are available following each semester to make sure that our students are always on-track for graduation. Students also participate in many multicultural activities that recognize and value student’s native culture. 

Students recently arrived into the United States are invited to participate in a Social/Emotional group called United Steelmen of America. The group's purpose is to help newly arrived students feel safe, welcome and supported at JTHS. We discuss new rituals and traditions as well as immigration stress and how to cope with emotions. 

Parents are invited to participate in evening Family Literacy classes that occur throughout the school year. These are taught by our ELL staff and childcare is provided. In addition, we are always looking at increasing our involvement with parents and community members as we offer monthly Bilingual Parent Advisory Council (BPAC) meetings that discuss the program and provide outside organizations a platform to discuss important issues to our community. If you are interested in these meetings, please sign-up on our website. 

BPAC Sign-Up

All JTHS students are required to take 4 years of English classes. Students in our ELL Program also take English classes that are comparable to the English only classes but with an emphasis on language development. The level in which they are placed depends on the ELL screener (a test that measures their English skills), ACCESS scores, and teacher recommendations.