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District 205 presents dual-language curriculum modules, guided observations and new instructional-materials recommendations
Summary
Learning & Teaching staff described multi-year professional learning, a new set of D205 dual-language modules for K–5 Spanish/English biliteracy, and recommended new middle-school Spanish materials be placed on public display for 30 days.
District 205’s Learning and Teaching team presented a yearlong update on June 17 that highlighted district instructional priorities, professional learning activity, the rollout of dual-language biliteracy modules, and proposed instructional materials for middle-school Spanish courses.
Amy Baker Zaleski, assistant director of language pathways and programs, described the district’s dual-language curriculum design and a third-grade example of a “D205 dual language module.” She said kindergarten students in the two-way dual-language program spend about 90% of the day in Spanish and 10% in English, shifting toward 50/50 by fourth and fifth grades, with dual-language middle-school courses following that progression. “The design of the D205 dual language modules is based on research for literacy and biliteracy,” she said, noting the team used the IMET (Instructional Materials Evaluation Tool) and adapted text and pacing from Wit & Wisdom to align monolingual and dual-language instruction.
The district will roll out the modules in full next school year and said professional learning included guided observations for leaders, PLC coaching, and teacher learning communities focused on tier-1 literacy instruction and oracy. District presenters emphasized that the guided observations are intended to support teachers and leaders (not to serve as evaluation) and that observations are coupled with follow-up professional learning and action plans.
For middle-school dual-language transition courses, the Learning and Teaching team recommended placing on public display the intermediate Spanish program “Perspectives” for 30 days to collect community feedback; the district said a physical copy is available for review at the district office.
Separately, the administration later brought to the board a motion to approve three specific instructional materials for the 2025–26 school year (American Government: Stories of a Nation, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, and Gandhi by Jane Rolison); that motion passed on the consent/agenda vote (see Votes at a glance).
