During the 1969-1970 school year, the Chicago Public Schools began implementing bilingual education programs in two elementary schools and one high school. These programs were supported with federal funds provided under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title VII Bilingual Education Act. The State of Illinois participated in the growth of bilingual education programs by funding five projects in the 1970-1971 school year. During the next few years, the number of bilingual programs continued to expand and on October 1, 1973 the Illinois General Assembly adopted Article 14C of The School Code of Illinois.

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Currently the Chicago Public Schools offers 13 languages of study at the elementary and high school levels. The goal of these programs is not only to develop proficiency in a second or third language but to expose students to an ever shrinking world and prepare them for the global economy. Approximately 25,000 students are studying a world language at the high school level and 20,000 at the elementary school level.

The World Language Unit in the Office of Language and Cultural Education supports these programs by providing ongoing professional development, resources for teachers and students, technical assistance to schools to develop world language programs and information on student travel abroad.

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