The Office of Language and Cultural Education believes in the importance of cultivating a true appreciation for cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity in Chicago Public Schools students. We encourage students to view culturally inherent differences as building blocks rather than barriers and offer challenging opportunities to explore and grow both academically and socially. Partnering with local and international organizations, our goal is to build a citizenry open to new thoughts, ideas and experiences, ready to operate and succeed in major global arenas – economic, political and social.

The Office of Language and Cultural Education (OLCE) also believes in the importance of investing in the professional development of its teachers. OLCE offers a broad array of workshops, conferences, cultural/language immersion programs and exchanges, as well as instructional materials for teachers to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the world. OLCE is committed to creating a teaching force able to prepare and expertly assist students through the complexities of the global arena.

Office Phone: 773.553.1930

Office Fax: 773.553.1931

E-mail: LangCultEd@cps.k12.il.us

a Bilingual/ESL Programs
During the 1969-1970 school year, the Chicago Public Schools began implementing bilingual education programs in two elementary schools and one high school. These programs were supported with federal funds provided under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title VII Bilingual Education Act. The State of Illinois participated in the growth of bilingual education programs by funding five projects in the 1970-1971 school year. During the next few years, the number of bilingual programs continued to expand and and on October 1, 1973 the  [more ...]

World Language and International Studies Program

It is the mission of the CPS Office of Language and Cultural Education World Language and International Studies Unit is to provide students from every racial and economic background with the tools to be active players in the global marketplace. The unit oversees K-12 instruction of 11 world languages and implements year round professional development to support the teaching of languages and the fostering of increased international content in all curriculum areas.
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BEWL Initiative

The Bilingual Education and World Language (BEWL) initiative, which is designed to lay the groundwork for using language education as a strategy for academic achievement.This innovative and comprehensive approach to language education will provide rigorous pre-K through 12th grade language development options for both English Language Learners (ELLs) and English-speaking students.   A key goal of BEWL is to help ensure CPS students are prepared to succeed in the global workforce, CPS officials said.
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Bilingual Professional Development

For a list of upcoming PD events for teachers of ELLs check out our Professional Development Calendar.

World Languages Professional Development

For a list of upcoming PD events for World Languages and International Studies Teachers check out our Professional Development Calendar.

06.20.11 :: Language Education Symposium Information Click Here

04.06.11 :: Updated BAC Calendar Click Here

12.14.10 :: New BEWL Program Section Click Here

12.08.10 :: Professional Development for Teachers of ELLs Click Here

10.15.10 :: The Bilingual Handbook has been updated Click Here