D86 board votes to sunset German at one campus, add ASL and expands 'earned-honors' options

The Hinsdale Township High School District 86 Board of Education on Nov. 21 moved to reshape its world-language offerings and broaden an "earned honors" pilot after months of committee discussion.

In a 7–0 roll-call vote the board approved a motion to "sunset" the German program (stop new enrollments) and add American Sign Language (ASL) at Hinsdale Central beginning in the 2025–26 school year. Board members debated five options presented by district staff — from maintaining German districtwide to phasing it out and expanding ASL — citing long-term enrollment declines in German, near-term retirements among German teachers and difficulty recruiting qualified replacements.

Superintendent Dr. Locke and curriculum staff told the board German enrollment has declined substantially (district slides cited a roughly 33–40% drop over five years) and that the district currently relies on roughly 1.4 FTE to cover German instruction across both campuses. Staff warned that without reliable hires the district could be forced to offer German only through partnerships (e.g., community college or online) or bus students between campuses. Trustees said sunsetting would be gradual — serving currently enrolled students while halting new Level 1 enrollment — and that administrators would pursue short-term staffing options, legal review, and communication to families.

The board also voted on two earned-honors proposals that change how certain electives are offered. Under 16A (journalism, news writing/reporting, news magazine, yearbook and the tech-support internship) the board approved converting stacked standard/honors offerings into a single class where students may "earn" honors credit by meeting specified, unit-based criteria; that motion passed 6–1. Under 16B (advanced acting, acting II, childcare development, culinary II and marketing) the board approved adding earned-honors options for courses that historically had only standard levels; that motion passed 5–2 after trustees debated concerns about potential GPA effects and whether earned honors should carry the same transcript weight as traditional honors/AP courses.

Supporters said the earned-honors model increases access (allowing students to enroll without committing to honors at sign-up and pursue honors-level work during the term), reduces scheduling conflicts and preserves high expectations by tying honors achievement to demonstrated, unit-level work. Critics raised questions about transcript reporting and first‑semester senior self‑reporting to colleges; district staff said the transcript reflects honors only after the grading period and recommended guidance-counselor messaging and application-side explanations where needed.

Board President and several trustees said the decisions were difficult but pragmatic: they preserve pathways for students while acknowledging current staffing realities. The district said it will publish an updated Program of Studies with corrected course-sequence charts and provide additional guidance to families and counselors on how earned-honors distinctions appear on transcripts and on college applications.

Next steps: administration will complete legal review, finalize staffing plans and publish a communication timeline for families about the German/ASL changes and the earned-honors rollout.