Imbalance In Elmhurst D205 Dual-Language Classes: Officials

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst School District 205's dual language program is expanding by a grade next year.

The program has been offered at the northside Conrad Fisher Elementary School for the last few years. It consists of students from kindergarten to fourth grade, but is set to include fifth grade next year.

Last year, 308 students were in the program.

At this week's school board meeting, Katie Lyons, a district official, said the district plans to do a better job monitoring the program's enrollment.

"We have seen a discrepancy in the number of students that are both native English speakers and native Spanish speakers," said Lyons, executive director of elementary education. "In a dual-language program, you want 50 percent English native and 50 percent Spanish native, so we're seeing a bit more imbalance there."

Lyons did not say which type of speaker made up the majority of the program's participants. Patch left a message for comment.

She said once the program reaches balance, it will better serve the intended outcomes.

According to the district, the amount of instruction in English is increased over time.

In kindergarten and first grade, 20 percent of lessons are in English. That increases to 30 percent and 40 percent in second and third grades, respectively

The percentage of English in classes jumps to 50 percent in fourth and fifth grades.