ESL/Bilingual Program

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 SAT exams. The ACCESS exam 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).

Currently, JTHS offers the following Programs of Instruction for EL students.

Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) Program Service Options
The ESL/Bilingual program provides English Language Learners (ELLs) the necessary support to attain proficiency in the English language. In instances where a student’s native or home language is Spanish, students can take their core classes in a bilingual environment designed to promote dual literacy in addition to ESL support. Students are placed in the program based on their results on either ACCESS or the WIDA screener that determine English-language proficiency.

Full-time TBE programs incorporate these required program components: instruction is provided in subjects required by law or by the district (including language arts, math, science, and social science) in the student’s home language (Spanish) and in English, English reading and writing support, Spanish language arts, and instruction in the history and culture of the student’s native land and of the United States.

Full Time TBE can also incorporate instruction provided by SIOP-trained teachers in English with English-speaking students as well as English courses taught using the co-teaching model of instruction with one ESL-trained teacher paired with an English teacher. Students who need services can choose which services best fit their needs for academic and language support.

Part-time TBE programs incorporate these required program components: daily instruction is provided in English and in the student’s home language as determined by assessment of the student’s English proficiency level. Additionally, students who accept part-time services also are enrolled in general education courses to supplement their ESL/Bilingual needs.

Bilingual Courses: Bilingual students receive most of their instruction in English with Spanish support provided by a Bilingual (Spanish-Speaking) teacher to aid students in building literacy and academic skills in the primary language and English.

SIOP/ESL Courses: SIOP students receive all their instruction in English by a SIOP-trained teacher that supports student’s literacy and academic skills by implementing the SIOP model in their instruction. The Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) model is a research-based method of instruction targeted toward English learners. It is used to ensure ESL students have both their content and language academic needs met in the classroom. SIOP teacher does not need to be bilingual. These courses will also be taught by ESL-certified staff.

Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI)
This program must be offered when there are 19 or fewer EL students of the same language. This provides intensive English instruction and support in all content areas. It is designed to enable students to keep pace with peers in achievement in the core academic content areas.

What is BPAC?
School districts with Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) programs are required to establish a Bilingual Parent Advisory Council. The main objective of the Bilingual Parent Advisory Council is to establish a clear and collaborative voice between the bilingual community, the EL Program and Joliet Township School District 204.

Members of BPAC include Parents, Teachers, Administrators, and Personnel. The committee meets at least four times a year to plan, evaluate, and discuss issues that are important to JTHS students and bilingual families. The committee also plans and hosts workshops that help support, promote, and encourage parental participation in educational programs for our students.

BPAC Meetings
Meetings are held at least four times a year. All JTHS parents are invited to attend our meetings and workshops! The meetings are held in Spanish with English interpretation services available. The location of meetings alternates between Joliet Central and Joliet West. The District offers free childcare for children (ages 3-12) for workshops and meetings. Light refreshments are also provided.

When is the next BPAC Meeting?
The next BPAC meeting is being held on July 11, 2023 at 4:00 pm via zoom. Join us as we establish meeting dates for the 2023-2024 school year.
July 11, 2023 BPAC Meeting Flyer (English)
July 11, 2023 BPAC Meeting Flyer (Spanish)

Get Involved!
If you are interested in joining BPAC or would like to learn more, please fill out the Online BPAC Contact Form.

Past Events:
Bilingual Parent Advisory Council Workshop with Psychologist Dr. Ferney Ramirez - May 11th at West Campus
Bilingual Parent Advisory Council Meeting - May 18th at Central Campus

Contact us for more information:

How Family Engagement Liaisons can assist our bilingual families?
Family Engagement Liaisons are dedicated to welcoming parents and helping them find ways to support their child's success. Strategy 3 of our Strategic Plan reads, "We will implement a holistic approach to supporting students through family, community, and student engagement, targeted supports, and flexible learning opportunities to improve student attendance and academic performance." 

Family Engagement Liaisons are excited to help families learn about how to succeed at JTHS and can help in many ways including: 

• Campus Parent
• Volunteer opportunities for parents/guardians to get involved with our school
• Events and resources on campus and in the community for parents/guardians and families
• Bilingual interpreting and translating at school
• Help and encourage families to join and be involved in BPAC 

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. 

Support staff for EL students include a Bilingual Counselor and Bilingual Social Worker to help with social emotional needs.

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.  

According to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Language Affairs, the role of bilingual education is based on two concepts of knowledge:

1. All young people can engage in tasks that require deep reasoning.
2. The development and maintenance of a student's native language does not interfere in any way with English language acquisition. On the contrary, research over the past decade in bilingual classrooms with established models of teaching excellence indicates that use and proficiency in the primary language enhances second language acquisition.

The benefits of learning bilingual education not only provide students with the opportunity to become bilingual, but also bicultural, truly understanding the values and society of more than one culture.

In the municipality of Joliet, we also provide students with the opportunity to earn the Seal of Bilingual Literacy by showing proficiency in both English and the student's native language. The Seal of Bilingual Literacy can be used for college credit after high school, and is also included on the student's transcript, which can be used for college admission or future employment.