CHICAGO — The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) hosted the 19th annual Statewide Summit for Bilingual Parents on May 3 in Oak Brook. More than 1,100 attendees – parents and caregivers of multilingual students and members of Bilingual Parent Advisory Committees from across the state – gathered to strengthen their advocacy and leadership in supporting the success of English learners (ELs).

“Parents are powerful advocates for their children and partners in education,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. “Illinois has more than 300,000 English learners, and each one deserves a school system that sees their language and culture as assets. When we invest in the leadership of multilingual families, we invest in stronger, more inclusive schools. This summit celebrates the vital role families play and strengthens the support they need to help their children thrive.”

“As someone who grew up in a Spanish-speaking home and was a first-generation immigrant, I know firsthand the power of language, culture, and family in shaping a child’s future,” said ISBE Board Member Dr. Sherly Chavarria, who was a featured speaker at the summit. “Throughout my career — as a principal, educator, and advocate — I have seen the incredible impact that parent leadership makes in our schools. I am proud to live in Illinois, where we recognize and celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of multilingual families. Their dedication today — and every day — helps build stronger schools, stronger communities, and a stronger Illinois for generations to come.”

The summit offered a full day of interactive sessions and networking opportunities for families whose children are enrolled in multilingual programs. Interpretation services were provided in wide range of languages, including Spanish, Korean, French, Angolan Portuguese, Arabic, Mongolian, Ukrainian, Polish, Mandarin, Karen, and Swahili.

Sessions covered a variety of topics relevant to EL success, including:

• Equitable funding and services for ELs.
• Family engagement strategies.
• Educational programs and services from pre-K through Grade 12.
• Access to higher education opportunities.
• Parent leadership and advocacy.
• Immigrant and community issues affecting EL families.

ELs are the fastest-growing student population in Illinois. During the school year 2023-24, approximately 303,000 students were identified as English learners – representing almost 16.4 percent of the state’s total public school enrollment. A total of 684 of Illinois’ 852 public school districts, or roughly 80 percent, implemented programs to serve ELs in SY 2022-23.

Bilingual Parent Advisory Committees (BPACs) are a vital part of bilingual education in Illinois. State law requires each school district with 20 or more English learners from the same language background to establish a Transitional Bilingual Education program and a BPAC, which provides parents of ELs a formal avenue to advise the district on programs and services. BPACs promote meaningful family engagement, cultural inclusion, and advocacy – ensuring that families play a central role in shaping the education of their children. The annual summit strengthens that mission by bringing together BPAC members from across the state to learn, lead, and collaborate.

View pictures from the summit. Recordings of summit sessions from this and past years’ summits will be available on the Illinois Resource Center’s YouTube channel​.