Kindergarten-12th Grade Education

Education Homepage

Promoting Academic Success

Increase access to a quality K-12 education that includes linguistically and culturally appropriate instruction for Latinos and English Learners, setting the stage for future academic success in college.

The Forum’s K-12 Education work takes two approaches:

  • Advocate for high-quality bilingual education. The research is clear: bilingual education works and sets English Learners on a path to future academic success. Research also shows that qualified bilingual teachers are the single most important factor in the success of English Learners.
  • Promote Latino student college readiness by addressing disparities in under-resourced schools—high student-to-counselor ratios and limited AP or Dual Credit courses. Even in well-resourced schools, structural barriers and non-inclusive family supports hinder access to rigorous education.
A teacher helping a group of students in a classroom.

State Budget Priorities

Equitable Funding for Illinois Districts

Increase K-12 funding for the Illinois School Funding Formula, prioritizing districts with the most need.

Advocating for Diverse Teacher Representation

Funding to support Diverse Teacher Pipeline, including the state’s Teacher Vacancy Grant and Minority Teacher of Illinois Scholarship Program.

Accomplishments in K-12 Policy

Latino students, many of them English Learners — students whose home language is not English — are one of the fastest growing groups of public-school students in the state. The Latino Policy Forum works with partners and stakeholders to advocate for investments in educational programming to provide our youngest students, and all students in Illinois, with the foundation for kindergarten readiness and future academic success.

Read More

Effective K-12 Policies and Practice

Based on findings from a groundbreaking study from the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research, the Forum successfully advocated that Illinois be the first state in the nation to include former English Learners within school accountability up until graduation.

Promoting the expansion of Dual Language Programs across Illinois.

The Forum supported state efforts to publish a report that underscores the growing importance of dual language (DL) education in Illinois public schools.

Advocate for specialized funding to support Bilingual Programming

Led advocacy on the largest increase in bilingual education funding in the state of Illinois through the establishment of Evidence-Based Funding in 2017.

Conducted Analysis to inform State Strategic planning around teacher recruitment and retention.

The analysis informed advocacy with Minority Teacher Illinois Scholarship, Teacher Vacancy Grants, and the State Board’s Future Teacher Educator Program.

In the Works

Research-Policy Partnership.

The Forum is collaborating with the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative at the University of Illinois to understand factors that impact Latino College readiness, retention and completion. Current studies include access to dual credit opportunities and trends in FAFSA completion.

Informing Teacher Recruitment efforts through Convening and Collaboration.

Forum staff work collaboratively to promote the State’s Teacher Vacancy Grants and strategic efforts to diversify pipeline of bilingual teachers. Additionally, the Forum co-chairs the Recruitment Policy Action Committee of the Educator Pipeline Group led by Advance Illinois to develop and advocate for recruitment strategies to strengthen and diversify Illinois’ educator pipeline.

Advocacy for Equitable Investment in State School Funding

Monitor K-12 Evidence-Based Funding and advocate for English Learner considerations within the Professional Review Panel.

Advancing Latino College Readiness.

Convene a steering committee of the Latino-concentrated school districts to highlight best practices and create state-level recommendations that improve Latino student college readiness in Illinois. Key objectives are to: share and use findings from research; develop strategies to improve college readiness; advocate for policy change and monitor progress.

Request a
Training

We’ve reached an estimated 1,500 bilingual families, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to support their children’s education. Learn more about workshops for school leaders and families on the importance of education and lifelong learning.

Request a training today

Research Reports & Resources

The Forum has a longstanding collaboration with the UChicago Consortium of School Research on an array of studies on English Learners (ELs) to better understand the differing trajectories of new arrivals, long-term ELs, and former ELs.

Scroll to Top