Bilingual & Multicultural Services

We are committed to providing a top-quality education that encompasses all our students' cultural backgrounds and where their native language and culture are celebrated and incorporated in daily instruction.

Our program is standard-aligned and rigorous. Every student is expected to be successful and college and career ready. We strive for the development of bilingualism and biliteracy in each of our students to empower them to compete in the 21st century workforce.

Student Demographics

The Bilingual Department proudly serves students from a multitude of cultures and language backgrounds by means of the various bilingual programs currently offered at RPS 205. These students speak more than 70 different languages.

Bilingual Programs

Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE)
Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI)

Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE)

TBE Developmental - Spanish (K-8 Grade) and TBE Developmental - Arabic (K-6 Grade)

The goal of the developmental bilingual program is to help students become literate in their native language as well as in English. Students learn biliteracy skills and develop content area competencies in English and Spanish or English and Arabic. The model of instruction is a one-way immersion model in which students are taught literacy and language skills through content in both languages. This program currently services Spanish speaking English learners at Conklin, Gregory, Hillman, Lathrop, Washington, and Whitehead elementary schools, as well as at RESA Middle School, and Arabic speaking English learners at Rolling Green Elementary School and Lincoln Middle School.

TBE Full Time/Part Time (9-12 Grade)

The TBE Full time/Part time program is offered to Spanish speaking English Learners (ELs) at the high school level and is housed at Jefferson High School. The goal of this program is for students to develop English skills while support is offered in both English and their native language in core academic subjects (language arts, math, science, and social studies). Instruction is provided on the history and culture of students’ or parents’ country of origin, as well as the history and culture of the United States.

Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI)

TPI (K-12 Grade)

The TPI program provides instruction to non-Spanish and non-Arabic speaking bilingual students. At the elementary level, students spend the majority of their day in a monolingual classroom and receive small group instruction each day with an ESL certified teacher. This instructional process helps students develop academic and social English in a sheltered environment. The ESL teacher works closely with the homeroom teacher to provide support for classroom learning. When possible, instruction is provided in the student’s home language in order to facilitate learning in English. Secondary students in the TPI program receive ESL and sheltered literacy instruction as well as sheltered instruction in content area classes. This program currently services TPI English Learners at all RPS 205 elementary, middle and high schools.

TPI - Newcomers

Newcomer classes are offered to English Learners at the middle and high school levels who are new to the country and are at an entering level of English development. The goal of the program is to acclimate students to their new school and new culture and provide intensive language and academic support in order to build a firm foundation for student achievement as they progress along the continuum of later TPI courses. When possible, instruction in student’s home language is provided in order to facilitate learning in English. This program currently services all newcomer English learners at Lincoln Middle School and East High school.

Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee

The Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) is an autonomous organization that is required for districts with TBE programs. It consists of the bilingual director, parents, bilingual teachers, counselors, and a community leader. This committee participates in program planning, operation, and evaluation. The committee meets on a regular basis throughout the year.

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