1. Parent(s) or Guardian(s)
2. District Registrar
3. Bilingual Assessment and Data Compliance Specialist
4. Teacher administering the screener
5. Building secretary, counselor or building registrar
6. Multilingual Office Professional (OP)

1. The parent(s) or guardian(s) must complete the pre-registration process. Once that happens, the registration appointment is made with a district registrar.

2. The district registrar looks at the student’s information in ISBE to determine whether they are a current Illinois student or not:

• If they are a current Illinois Student: The district registrar will look at the student’s EL Learner Status under the EL Information tab to determine the next steps in regards to the student’s EL program.

  • If the status is Never EL: The student was either already screened and determined not an EL, or the student has never been identified as a potential EL and has, thus, never needed to be screened. No further action is required from the EL Department.

  • If the status is Former EL: The student has already obtained the required English Proficiency Test scores to be considered a fluent English Speaker. No further action is required from the EL Department.

  • If the status is Current EL: The student has scores that already categorize them as ELs. - The Bilingual Assessment and Data Compliance Specialist or the Multilingual Office Professional will complete the enrollment documentation process (see step 3). No screening needs to be done.

• If they are NOT a current Illinois Student:

  • If they come from another WIDA state (listed below), the Bilingual Assessment and Data Compliance Specialist or the Multilingual Office Professional will attempt to get English proficiency test scores from the schools.

  • If they are new to the United States or come from a non-WIDA State (listed below), the Bilingual Assessment and Data Compliance Specialist will provide an English proficiency screening to the student according to State regulations.

1. The Bilingual Assessment and Data Compliance Specialist or the Multilingual Office Professional will explain the different EL Programs to the parent(s) or guardian(s). The parent(s) or guardian(s) must choose one of the EL programs presented. The programs are summarized below:

• EARLY CHILDHOOD (Pre-K)

  • Bilingual (Spanish/English) 

    • Qualifying students are placed in a class with a primary focus on Spanish and some exposure to English.

  • ESL (TBE/PTI) 

    • Qualifying students are placed in a monolingual class and receive English support from an ESL teacher.

• ELEMENTARY (K-5th)

  • Dual Language (Spanish/English) 

    • Qualifying students receive academic content instruction in English and Spanish.

  • ESL (PBE/PTI) 

    • Qualifying students are placed in a monolingual class and receive English support from an ESL teacher.

• MIDDLE SCHOOL (6th-8th)

  • Dual Language (Spanish/English) 

    • Qualifying students are placed in social studies and language arts classes taught in Spanish. 

    • English Language Arts is taught by an ELS-certified teacher. 

    • All other courses are taught in English. 

    • Extra support may be provided by an ESL teacher. 

  • ESL (PBE/PTI) 

    • Qualifying students receive English support from an ESL teacher based on the students’ needs.

• HIGH SCHOOL (9th-12th) 

  • Dual Language (Spanish/English)

    • Qualifying students are placed in selected classes taught in Spanish in addition to a Spanish world language class. 

    • Extra support may be provided by an ESL teacher. 

  • ESL (PBE/PTI)

    • Qualifying students receive English support from an ESL teacher based on the students’ needs.

Note: Parent(s) or guardian(s) of current English Learners will also have the option to refuse placement in the enrolled program. In this case, the student will be initially placed in an EL program according to their proficiency scores.

2. The parent(s) or guardian(s) sign the required documents, according to the program they chose. These documents are included in the student’s EL Folder (see step 6).

• Required documents: Home Language Survey (HLS), Initial EL Program Placement, Part-Time Rationale (in the case of Spanish-speaking ESL students with an overall score of 3.5 or less).

Note: In the case of a Refusal of EL Services, the parent(s) or guardian(s) must sign the initial placement acknowledging that the student was placed in an EL program according to their need, but must then write a letter clearly expressing their intention to refuse all services from the EL department.

1. The Bilingual Assessment and Data Compliance Specialist or the Multilingual Office Professional will enter the student’s English Learner information into the student integration system. The information includes:

• Student’s EL denomination

• Enrolled EL program.

• Most recent English proficiency test scores.

1. Once the District Registrar has confirmed the student’s completed registration into the district, the Bilingual Assessment and Data Compliance Specialist or the Multilingual Office Professional will inform the student’s school via email.

• The notification email must include:

  • The attending school.

  • The student’s full name & last name, as found in the district’s registration platform.

  • Their student ID number.

  • Their enrolled EL program.

• The notification email must be sent to:

  • The District’s SIS Coordinator and State Reporting Specialist. Required

  • The school’s designated Assistant Principal. Required

  • The attending school’s designated OP. Required

  • The school’s EL Contact. Optional

  • The student’s ESL teachers. Optional

1. The Bilingual Assessment and Data Compliance Specialist or the Multilingual Office Professional will complete the student’s EL folder according to State standards. The EL Folder houses all the students’ English Proficiency information. This includes:

• The Home Language Survey, which lists the student’s language background.

• The Initial Language Program Placement form, which details the student’s enrolled program at the time of registration. This form also includes their most recent available English proficiency test scores.

• The description of the student’s enrolled program.

• The Student Information Sheet includes the student’s EL information at the time of registration.

• The EL Student Record’s Checklist lists the documents that need to be included in the EL folder.

• Evidence of the student’s EL proficiency testing scores, which could be the WIDA Paper screener (original or copy), printout of the ISBE’s assessment scores report, official WIDA screening reports, etc.

2. If the EL folder has been completed, the Bilingual Assessment and Data Compliance Specialist or the Multilingual Office Professional will send it to the student’s attending school via interoffice mail, addressed to the school’s assigned EL Records Contact.