Chicago Parents Urge CPS to Fund Multilingual Education

Representatives of the Chicago Multilingual Parent Council urged the Chicago Board of Education to strengthen support for multilingual students in the district’s upcoming budget, emphasizing the need for qualified bilingual teachers, equitable resources, and better communication with families.

The council presented the requests during the board’s regular meeting on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at the Chicago Public Schools Loop Office at 42 West Madison Street.

Three council representatives — Esmeralda Gutierrez, Maricela Villarreal, and Beatrice Castillo — addressed board members during the public comment period, highlighting four priorities: equitable resources, certified bilingual staffing, language access, and additional support for newcomer students.

Gutierrez, who serves as the council’s secretary, explained that the group wanted multilingual education to receive greater attention in the district’s financial planning. She said the representatives attended the meeting “to urge the board to prioritize our multilingual learners in the upcoming year across four critical areas.”

Villarreal emphasized the importance of having properly trained educators who can provide instruction in students’ native languages. She told board members that “securing bilingual lead certified teachers remains an urgent priority,” stressing that students also need appropriate educational materials to succeed academically.

According to Villarreal, the council represents “79,195 bilingual students in CPS and their families who face challenges in our school system.”

She also referenced research from the University of Chicago examining academic outcomes among bilingual students. The study, she said, found that students who remain in bilingual programs for extended periods without achieving English proficiency tend to make less academic progress than those who receive adequate support and complete the state’s ACCESS English language proficiency assessment.

The council also highlighted the importance of making school communications accessible to parents who primarily speak languages other than English. Representatives argued that families need information in their native languages to participate effectively in their children’s education.

Castillo, the council’s vice president, described multilingual learners as “a vibrant, growing part of our district” and emphasized that their academic success “requires sustained investment, culturally responsible instruction, and communication parents can actually access in their native languages.”

She added that the council looks forward to “partnering with you to help our multilingual learners thrive.”

Board members did not respond directly to the speakers during the meeting. Under Chicago Public Schools’ public participation procedures, district leadership typically addresses concerns through subsequent follow-up rather than during the public comment period.

The council’s appeal places multilingual education among the issues raised for consideration as Chicago Public Schools prepares its next annual budget. Representatives are seeking continued investment in bilingual instruction, staffing, language accessibility, and resources for students entering the district from other countries.