Two District 54 schools named International Spanish Academies
Link Elementary School and Frost Junior High School are now on the roster of District 54 English-Spanish dual-language schools that have been named International Spanish Academies. This designation is part of an international cooperative educational program involving public schools in the United States and the Ministry of Education and Science in Spain.
A school in the United States or Canada that is implementing a high-quality dual language program can apply to be named an International Spanish Academy. The purpose of the International Spanish Academy is to develop Spanish-English bilingual education programs that promote high academic standards for all students and provide them with the values of multicultural education. The program's goals include ensuring that students become as competent in Spanish as in English; contributing to the academic success of students in all subjects in the curriculum; and instilling the values of a multicultural education.
"This recognition as an international Spanish Academy reflects the quality of instruction provided to the dual language students by the staff at Frost and Link, as well as the continued commitment of students and families to the goal of becoming bilingual and biliterate," said Danette Meyer, District 54's assistant superintendent for language and culture. "Roberto Garcia and Jose Antonio Benedicto from the Ministry of Spain were so impressed by the students' proficiency and ease in communicating in both Spanish and English, and the engaging instruction provided by the dual language teachers during their visit to Link and Frost."
Link's English-Spanish dual-language program was established in 2009, and Frost became a dual-language school in 2011 when students from Hanover Highlands' program moved into seventh grade.
The other District 54 schools that have been named International Spanish Academies are
• Enders-Salk Elementary School in Schaumburg,
• Hanover Highlands Elementary School in Hanover Park,
• MacArthur Elementary School in Hoffman Estates,
• Eisenhower Junior High in Hoffman Estates and
• Keller Junior High in Schaumburg.