Illinois: ELL Resources

Map of Illinois

As of SY 2019-2020, Illinois's schools were home to more than 261,000 English language learners. In recent years, the most common five languages spoken by ELLs in Illinois have been Spanish, Arabic, Polish, Chinese, and Urdu. (U.S. Dept. of Education, National Center for Education Statistics)

Illinois is a member of WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment), joining in 2004. WIDA is a consortium of states dedicated to the design and implementation of high standards and equitable educational opportunities for English language learners which offers states programming for identifying and annually assessing the English language development of its English learners.

Note: For additional state-by-state data and information, see New America's English Learner Accountability Hub.

State ELL Resources

Illinois State Board of Education

Related resources

Statewide Organizations

Note: Regulations change with time. These guidelines were compiled in January of 2012 and updated in May 2022. If you see something that needs updating, please send an e-mail to Colorín Colorado. For more detailed information regarding ELL guidelines and policies at the state and federal levels, please see the following:

References

U.S. Department of Education. Our Nation’s English Learners. Most Common Non-English Languages Spoken by English Learners.