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Consolidated District Plan (CDP)

The CDP addresses the planning portion of the grant application process. All districts that intend to submit an application for one of the 12 federal grants included in the CDP must have an approved CDP with ISBE before submitting the grant application. No state grants are included in the CDP.

Grant applications are not included in the CDP; those are completed separately.

The recommended due date for the CDP is April 1. A district must have a fully approved CDP prior to any grant applications being approved.

Bilingual Service Plan (BSP)

The Bilingual Service Plan (BSP) is a component of the CDP. The purpose of this plan is to ensure that English learner (EL) programs are implemented in accordance with Section 14C-12 of the Illinois School Code, 23 IL Administrative Code Part 228 Transitional Bilingual Education and all Federal legal requirements for ELs. In addition, this data collection will help the ISBE Multilingual/Language Development Department better support school districts in providing services for ELs to develop English proficiency and access academic content to meet the Illinois Learning Standards.

All districts that have ELs in the previous school year must complete the BSP annually.​​

• CDP/BSP Webinar​
• ​CDP-BSP Presentation​​
  

The Bilingual Program Delivery Report (PDR) is reported on ISBE’s Illinois Web-Based Application System (IWAS). All districts that received $5,000 or more of state Evidence-Based Funding (EL-EBF) For English learner (EL) services and/or federal Title III LIEP/ISEP funds must submit this report. The report is used by ISBE to collect important data and ensure that school districts are properly serving ELs, following state and federal law for bilingual education, and using qualified staff and appropriate instructional methods.

The following data elements for districts’ EL programming are collected by ISBE annually:

• The program funding types received by the district for EL and/or immigrant students
• The number of licensed teachers who are involved with the education of EL and/or immigrant students and the types of endorsements held (ESL, Bilingual, ELS-TBE, ELS-VIT)
• The estimated number of additional licensed teachers needed over the next five years
• The activities that are provided for ELs and staff who work with ELs that are funded by Title III grants (LIEP/ISEP)
• The number of staff who participate in professional development activities funded by Title III grants (LIEP/ISEP)
• The resources provided to parents/families of EL and/or immigrant students funded by Title III grants (LIEP/ISEP)
• The extended program services funded by Title III grants (LIEP/ISEP).

Important Dates and Resources

• Collection opens May 15.
  
• Submission due date is July 31.
• Please refer to the PDR User Guide in IWAS to complete your submission
  
• FY2026 Program Delivery Report Funding Status
  
• Accessing an Application via IWAS​
  

​For technical assistance on how to access the PDR in IWAS, please contact the Help Desk at (217) 558-3600. For assistance in responding to the questions in the PDR, please contact Dr. Seon Eun in the Data Strategies and Analytics at seun@isbe.net . For any EL program-related questions, please email Multilingual@isbe.net .​

​The Illinois State Board of Education is required to notify school districts of the total English Learner (EL) funding each student generates due to the EBF law passed on August 31, 2017. This composite amount of funds includes any EL funds generated under the Base Funding Minimum and Tier Funding. It does not include funding generated by the core investment cost factors of the EBF formula, the money from which also benefits ELs. View the listing of FY 2021 Student Allocation funding totals per district . Districts were reminded that state funding attributable to ELs was to be spent on EL services per the requirements of Article 14C also requires that at least 60 percent of EL funds must be spent on instructional costs of ELs (Function 1000). For other information on EBF and its spending plan, please visit the EBF page on ISBE's website.​​

EL - Title III Intent to Apply Application for LIEP/ISEP

The EL - Title III Intent to Apply Application is available through IWAS. The due date for the application is for fiscal year 2027 March 28, 2026. Only districts that plan to apply for fiscal year 2027 federal Title III funding must submit the EL - Title III Intent to Apply Application.

These districts also will be required to submit a Consolidated District Plan and an EL-Title III Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) Application and/or Immigrant Student Education Program (ISEP) Application to complete the application process for FY 2027 funds.

Purposes

Developing and implementing new language instruction educational programs and academic content instructional programs for English learners (ELs) and immigrant children and youth.

1. Carrying out highly focused, innovative, locally designed activities to expand or enhance existing language instruction educational programs and academic content instructional programs for ELs and immigrant children and youth.
2. Implementing schoolwide programs within a school for restructuring, reforming, and upgrading all language instruction educational programs and academic content instruction for ELs and immigrant children and youth.
3. Implementing local education agency wide programs for restructuring, reforming, and upgrading all relevant programs, activities, and operations relating to language instruction educational programs and academic content instruction for ELs and immigrant children and youth.
4. Providing effective professional development to classroom teachers; principals; school leaders; administrators; and other school- or community-based organizational personnel, including parent, family, and community engagement activities.

Reminders

1. A district that wishes to apply for any Title III funds for which it is eligible in a given fiscal year MUST create, complete, and submit the EL - Title III Intent to Apply Application prior to the due date.
2. Districts must review their EL student enrollment data in the ISBE Student Information System (SIS) and add or correct enrollment data as necessary to accurately reflect their EL student enrollment totals and periods of service.
3. Title III requirements specify that a district that will generate at least $10,000 in LIEP formula funding may apply as a single district. A district that will generate less than $10,000 has the option to form a consortium with other districts to jointly generate at least $10,000 in LIEP funding. The required threshold of $10,000 does not apply to ISEP.
4. Student enrollment information will be extracted from SIS on April 15 to calculate projected allocations for federal Title III LIEP grants. All information should be accurate in SIS. EL enrollment data used for Title III funding allocations will be based on home schools.
5. The EL - Title III Intent to Apply Application will collect information on the program contact person, private school consultations, and private school EL students.
   

Please make sure that your approval groups are properly assigned via IWAS in order to access and transmit your application. Technical assistance on items not covered by the instructions may be obtained from the Multilingual/Language Development Department at multilingual@isbe.net.

Guidelines

• District Consortium Member Agreement
  
• 43-20: Private-Schools Consultation Participation Form
  
• Directory of Educational Entities
• Non-Public School Enrollment 2025 Data​​
  

What is LIEP?

• The Title III Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) is a federally funded, supplemental grant for districts with a number of eligible English learner students.  This is a formula-based grant.

What is the purpose of the LIEP grant?

• Title III Language Instruction for English Learners (ELs) is a federal fund appropriated to the state to support:
• Implementation of high-quality instructional programs for ELs that will help them attain English proficiency, achieve at high levels in core academic subjects, meet the Illinois Learning Standards, and graduate from high school prepared to enter college or career;
• Providing professional development and training to teachers and administrators designed to improve the instruction and assessment of ELs; and
• Promoting parental, family, and community participation in the ELs' education.

Who are English Learner students?

• An eligible English learner student is:
• Enrolled in an Illinois public school;
• Has a Home Language Survey that indicates another language other than English in one or both, of the required questions;
• Has been screened with an approved WIDA screener and identified as not proficient in English (less than 5.0 composite);
• Has not reclassified on the ACCESS test (4.8 overall composite or higher).

How is a district eligible for the LIEP grant?

• Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act specifies that eligibility and funding for the LIEP grant must be based on the total current year enrollment of English learner students in the district and nonpublic schools within a district's boundaries.
• School districts that have met all the following conditions are eligible for an LIEP grant:
• District submitted an Intent to Apply for the LIEP grant;
• District has the minimum number of English learner students in the fiscal year in which an Intent to Apply has been submitted to generate $10,000 minimum in funding as a single district or in a consortium;
• District has reported English learner enrollments in the ISBE Student Information System during the fiscal year for which an Intent to Apply has been submitted.

Once a district is found eligible for the LIEP grant, how does it receive the funds?

• Eligible districts must complete an application in IWAS. A district will receive its funding after an application is fully approved. Reimbursements occur after expenditure reports are submitted.​
  

LIEP Resources

What is ISEP?

• The Title III Immigrant Student Education Program (ISEP) is a federally funded, supplemental grant for districts experiencing a “significant increase" in the number of eligible immigrant children and youth as compared to the two preceding fiscal years.  This is a formula-based grant.

What is the purpose of the ISEP grant?

• The ISEP grant is designed to assist school districts with a significant increase in the number of immigrant students and to help support their families. This helps the students meet the same challenging grade-level language and academic standards as mainstream students.
• Funds received from the ISEP grant must be used to enable a school district to provide enhanced supplemental instructional opportunities for immigrant children and youth.
• One of the goals of the ISEP grant is to provide more assistance to districts that have seen an increase in immigrant students, but do not qualify for the Title III LIEP grant.

Who are immigrant students?

• An eligible immigrant student for the purpose of this grant, according to federal regulations, is defined as a student:
• Ages 3 through 21;
• Not born in any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
• Who has not attended one or more schools in any one or more U.S. states for more than three full academic years.

How is a district eligible for the ISEP grant?

• Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act specifies that eligibility and funding for the ISEP grant must be based on the total current year enrollment of immigrant students in the district and nonpublic schools within a district's boundaries. 
• School districts that have met all the following conditions are eligible for an ISEP grant:
• District submitted an Intent to Apply for the ISEP grant;
• District has an enrollment of 10 or more immigrant students in the fiscal year in which an Intent to Apply has been submitted;
• District has reported immigrant student enrollments in the ISBE Student Information System during the fiscal year for which an Intent to Apply has been submitted and approved and for the previous two fiscal years;
• District has shown a significant increase (either 3 percent or 50 students, whichever is less) over the average immigrant student enrollment for the preceding two fiscal years.

Once a district is found eligible for the ISEP grant, how does it receive the funds?

• Eligible districts must complete an application in IWAS. A district will receive its funding after an application is fully approved. Reimbursements occur after expenditure reports are submitted.
  

The Bilingual Education Award (BEA) recognizes high-performing districts based on the following criteria:

• A recipient of Title III funds in the year of the award.
• The district’s rate of proficiency on ACCESS in the previous year.
• The English Learner Progress to Proficiency rate in the previous year.
• The district’s carryover percentage from the previous year, for Title III Language Instruction Educational Program and Immigrant Student Education Program funds.
• Whether the district received a BEA in the previous three years.

Recipients of the BEA are eligible for a financial award that can be used for professional development, instructional improvement, and supplemental curriculum development on the following topics -- newcomer programs, social-emotional learning support for English learners and immigrant children and youth, and bilingual education/dual language professional development and curriculum improvement.​

BEA Resources

• EL - Title III BEA Instructions
• ​EL Title III Bilingual Education Award Presentation​
  
• EL Title III Bilingual Education Award​ Presentation Recording​​
  

What is the GPR?

The GPR is a report aligned with the federal Uniform Guidance and Illinois’ Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) where districts submit information on the accomplishments of deliverables in the grant, the status of the performance measures, and the alignment of the accomplishments to date with spending to date. The purpose of the GPR is to ensure that districts are using funds for allowable costs consistent with Title III requirements and to verify the impact of the expenditures in the district.

Which districts complete the GPR?

All districts that have an approved application for Title III funding are required to complete the GPR annually. This applies to the Language Instruction Education Program (LIEP) grant, the Immigrant Student Education (ISEP) grant, and the Bilingual Education Award (BEA). Districts that applied as a single district or as an administrative district of a consortium must complete the GPR. However, consortium members are not required to submit a GPR. Districts must file the Quarter 4 expenditure for Title III grants before submitting the GPR. The GPR cannot be reviewed and will be disapproved if the final expenditure report is not submitted. The GPR should match the district’s expenditure report in the Financial Reimbursement Information System (FRIS).

How do districts complete the GPR?

Districts can access the GPR system on IWAS. Districts will also complete and upload a Title III grants template to report Deliverables and Performance Outcomes for each of the Title III grants (LIEP, ISEP, BEA) the district was awarded. Title III grants templates can be accessed on the ISBE Grant Periodic Reporting webpage. Under the “Program Specific Information” heading, click on the ribbon for Title III.

Important Dates and Resources

Grant Periodic Reports will be open on June 30, 2026.

• Districts will report for FY 2026 deliverables and results between July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026, using the attached spreadsheet.
• Districts have already reported on Title III for FY 2025 (July 1, 2025 – August 31, 2025). On the FY 2025 GPR Deliverables section districts will enter “GPR already submitted with FY 2025 report.” Grantees will not submit any additional documents for the FY 2025 GPR.
• Districts will report for FY 2026 grant period (July1, 2026-August 31, 2026) in June 2027.​
  
• GATA Resources
  
• GPR Resources
  
• Title III GPR
• Title III GPR Webinar​​