District 112 launches RFP for dual language program evaluation after receiving 10 proposals

District officials outlined the next steps in an external evaluation of the Dual Language program at the Committee of the Whole meeting. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Michael Rodrigo and Mr. Castro, the district's Director of Multilingual Services, said the RFP—publicly distributed in December—attracted ten proposals; a redaction and rubric review process produced three highest-rated finalists now undergoing reference checks.

Dr. Rodrigo said the goal of the needs assessment and program audit is to produce practical, actionable recommendations on student outcomes, curriculum coherence, and instructional model design, particularly to prepare for consolidating the K–5 dual language program at Oak Terrace beginning with the 2027–28 school year. If the Board approves a vendor at its Feb. 17 regular meeting, the evaluation will begin immediately, with data collection through June and a final report expected in August or September 2026.

The district also noted participation in the ECRA EL Consortium, which aggregates EL assessment data from more than 100 districts and may inform the review. The Dual Language Task Force Student Success Subcommittee—including dual language teachers and administrators from Oak Terrace and Red Oak—helped define evaluation focus areas and performed an initial rubric-based review of submissions.

Board members were briefed on timing and next steps; the administration will return to the Board on Feb. 17 with a recommended vendor and a proposed timeline for evaluation deliverables.