The District has two instructional programs intended to serve EL students: the Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) Program and Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI).
The TBE program is a state-mandated program designed to serve students when 20 or more of the same language group are identified. Bilingual Education is an approach to teaching language minority students who are not yet proficient in English. In this approach, a certain amount of instruction is provided through the student’s native language with a strong ESL component, while the student acquires sufficient English proficiency to transition to the general education classroom. Bilingual education is not remedial education (subtractive), but rather an additive program of instruction. Within the TBE Model, there are two program models: Full-Time TBE and Part-Time TBE. Geneva CUSD 304 maintains an Elementary Spanish Bilingual TBE program housed at Harrison Street Elementary School.
The TPI program is a state-mandated program designed to serve students when 19 or fewer students are at one school site. The program is for students whose first language is a language other than English and who have difficulty with written, read, heard, or spoken English. The program provides support to assist the acquisition of English and succeed in academic subjects. The TPI teacher employs an instructional resource delivery system concentrating on ESL instruction to increase English language proficiency in conversation as well as in content area. ESL paraprofessionals staff this program. Native language support is given, where possible, through the use of the native language-speaking staff. This instructional delivery system includes pullout, push-in, and sheltered instruction. The goals of the program are to meet academic achievement standards for grade promotion and to become proficient in English.