English learners make grade in District U-46

After a change to the grading scale, Elgin Area School District U-46 English learners met language proficiency standards on state tests for the first time in 2006-2007.

Since the 2003-2004 school year, the federal No Child Left Behind law has required districts prove their English learners are making progress toward speaking, reading, writing and listening to the English language.

School districts that receive federal funds for English language learners must demonstrate proficiency annually or risk state and federal sanctions.

U-46 failed to make the grade during the 2003-2004, 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 school years.

But the 6,700 English learners in the state's second largest school system far surpassed state targets in 2006-2007.

Nearly 95 percent of English learners are making progress in at least one of four areas -- reading, listening, speaking or writing English. The state target is 85 percent.

And 22 percent of English learners tested as proficient in reading, writing, listening and speaking English -- more than twice the state target of 10 percent.

New district initiatives -- such as standardizing the bilingual curriculum across all classrooms and coordinating bilingual and mainstream instruction -- boosted scores.

But so, too, did a re-calibrated test, which for the first time grouped students by grade level, U-46 bilingual coordinator Wilma Valero said.

"Now they're comparing third-graders with third-graders and fifth-graders with fifth-graders," Valero said. "That made a huge difference."