District 62 expands supports for multilingual learners and special education

District 62 officials outlined work under Goal 2 to create safer, more inclusive learning environments, emphasizing supports for multilingual learners and a renewed focus on special education.

"Following last year's multilingual program review, a multilingual action team was formed with representation from schools and departments across the district," Speaker 2 said, noting the team's first meeting was Nov. 12 and that it will guide implementation of the action plan in partnership with Barb Marler.

Officials said the Guiding Coalition for Special Education will reconvene to analyze the district's continuum of services and identify ways to expand inclusive practices while maintaining specialized supports. The update also described school‑level work to strengthen positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) and multi‑tiered systems of support (MTSS), and the rollout of tier‑2 check‑in/check‑out structures to ensure students have a trusted adult connection each day.

Speaker 2 also announced an expansion of the Special Olympics program to include a basketball skills team, which district staff characterized as another opportunity for students to build confidence and teamwork.

Why it matters: Changes to multilingual programming and special education services can reshape supports for English learners and students with disabilities, affecting staffing, training and service delivery.

Next steps: The multilingual action team will lead implementation of the program review recommendations and staff will continue to develop inclusive practices and PBIS/MTSS structures.