Dear friends, We have just a few days left to ensure crucial federal Title III funds reach our schools and communities where it is needed most. These funds support salaries and curriculum, language instruction, academic support services, parent engagement workshops and professional development for educators like you who serve ELs. This $890 million in funds has already been appropriated by Congress, but has not been released. Illinois receives about $30 million of these important monies. The deadline for releasing these funds is this Tuesday, July 1st. If this deadline for disbursement is missed, many districts will lose critical resources for supporting multilingual [...]

 Over the past few months, the IRC has been highlighting teachers working with multicultural, multilingual students who are going above and beyond. This is part of our companion series celebrating parent and community leaders who are advocating for multilingual students. Meet Adriana Bravo, a parent and BPAC member from Minooka District 201. Adriana Bravo has been building community alongside other multilingual parents since her daughters were in preschool. Now, her oldest is beginning her first year of high school, and her motivation to advocate for parents is as strong as ever. “I love to be involved,” she says. “It's very important [...]

Over the past few months, the IRC has asked members of our community to nominate Illinois teachers working with multicultural, multilingual students who are going above and beyond, and now, we’re celebrating them and highlighting their work. Keep an eye out for these features in the coming months – and if you’d like to nominate someone, email leanet@cntrmail.org. Next up is Jackie Griffin, the Director of Curriculum, Professional Learning and Language at East Prairie School District 73. Says Hal Schmeisser, who nominated her: I would like to nominate Jackie Griffin the Director of Curriculum, Professional Learning, and Language at East Prairie School District [...]

Over the past few months, the IRC has asked members of our community to nominate Illinois teachers working with multicultural, multilingual students who are going above and beyond, and now, we’re celebrating them and highlighting their work. Keep an eye out for these features in the coming months – and if you’d like to nominate someone, email leanet@cntrmail.org. Next up is Xiomara Bustamante, a biliteracy coach at J.S. Morton High School.  Says Ana Castellanos, who nominated her: Xiomara is the Biliteracy Coach in our building and I have yet to meet a more dedicated and passionate for ELL students professional. She is [...]

Over the past few months, the IRC has asked members of our community to nominate Illinois teachers working with multicultural, multilingual students who are going above and beyond, and now, we’re celebrating them and highlighting their work. Keep an eye out for these features in the coming months – and if you’d like to nominate someone, email leanet@cntrmail.org. Next up is Sara Giannopoulos, an EL and content support teacher at J.S. Morton High School. Says Melody Becker, who nominated her: “As Lead Teacher, Sara has been an instructional leader within our EL department for the last five years. She has strong knowledge of [...]