After a lot of hard work, 26 English Learners (EL) students are ready to move on and exit the district's EL program.
 
Students in the EL program receive a variety of English language support to get them to their end goal - exiting the EL program. In order to do so they have to be proficient in the English language. However, that's not an easy task.
 
Students have to pass the WIDA ACCESS English Language proficiency test that measures students' academic English language skills. The test is extremely hard and the state of Illinois requires an overall composite score of 4.8. Students are assessed in the 4 domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. 

"We are incredibly proud of the goal these students have reached. Only 6.1% of English Learners in Illinois reached the 4.8 composite score on WIDA ACCESS, so these students are part of an elite group! We wish all English Learners the very best on this year's ACCESS assessment, and hope to highlight many more students in the future. " said Debra Frantz, EL Program Director. 

 

To celebrate their accomplishment, this year the district created certificates and presented them to the EL students. After students leave the EL program their academic progress will still be monitored for an additional two years. 
 
Congratulations to the following students on passing the 2021-2022 ACCESS test:
 
Eddie Castaneda - Denkmann Elementary School
Oscar Chavez - Denkmann Elementary School
Hsa Htoo - Denkmann Elementary School
John Nung - Denkmann Elementary School
Wah Soe - Denkmann Elementary School
Cung Van - Denkmann Elementary School
Hlaing Bee - Earl Hanson Elementary School
Paw Htoo - Earl Hanson Elementary School
Moo Smile - Earl Hanson Elementary School
Ku Say Paw - Edison Jr. High School
Naira Ahmad - Eugene Field Elementary School
Daniel Palacios - Eugene Field Elementary School
Bikorimana Seth - Longfellow Liberal Arts
Zainab Mahdi - Ridgewood Elementary School

Solange Dorika - Rock Island Academy

Samson Hatangimana - Rock Island Academy

Loi Loi - Rock Island Academy

Swei Moo - Rock Island Academy

Monserratt Rocio Ruiz - Rock Island Academy

Fikiri Wiba - Rock Island Academy
Crystal Aguilera - Rock Island Center for Math & Science
Ian Callaway - Rock Island Center for Math & Science
Jesse Hlay - Rock Island Center for Math & Science
Kasimu Mustafa - Rock Island Center for Math & Science
Esther Shy - Rock Island Center for Math & Science
Jorge Bravo Rios - Rock Island High School
 
The next testing window for the WIDA ACCESS assessment is January 11- February 28th, 2023. Good luck to all of our EL students who will be testing!