>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES I'M JOINED ON THIS ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

2 PRIVATE SCHOOLS SAY THEIR DOORS ARE CLOSING DUE TO THE LOSS OF A CONTROVERSIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

WHY ADVOCATES WANT INCREASE SUPPORT FOR BILINGUAL INSTRUCTION AT CHICAGO PUBLIC EVERYTHING WE DO IS DEFINITELY INSPIRED.

AND, YOU KNOW, >> DRIVEN BY OUR MEXICAN ROOTS.

>> AND A TASTE OF SOME MODERN MEXICAN CUISINE CHICAGO RESTAURANT WEEK KEEPS FISHING.

>> AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, A GROUP OF ALL THE PEOPLE ASKED MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON TO CANCEL THE 60 DAY LIMIT ON SHELTER, STAYS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS.

IN A LETTER TO THE MAYOR SAID TODAY, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARGUE THE EVICTION POLICY THREATENS THE HEALTH AND SAFETY.

THE PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON THOSE SHELTERS WHILE THE 60 DAY LIMIT HAS BEEN EXTENDED TWICE ALDERMEN.

BYRON SIGCHO LOPEZ SAYS THERE ARE CURRENTLY 8,000 MIGRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN HAVE GOT AN EVICTION NOTICES AND DO NOT HAVE ALTERNATIVE HOUSING OPTIONS.

THE ALDER PEOPLE ALSO ONE BETTER COORDINATION WITH THE STATE AND COUNTY IMPROVE SHELTER CONDITIONS AND THE PERMANENT HOUSING SYSTEM FOR NEW ARRIVALS IN THOSE FACING HOMELESSNESS.

>> WHAT IS GOAL DOWN FORWARD?

AND WE ARE ASKING THE MAYOR AGREES IS THAT WE NEED TO STATE AND I BEEN GOING TO BEG THE PRICE.

THE PLEAS COVERED THE FACTS.

WE'VE GOT 65 MILLION DOLLARS THAT THIS STATE HAVE COMMITTED.

THAT'S STILL ARE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

WE HAVE A LIMIT.

THE PART WE HAVE A LIMITED BUDGET 150 MILLION DOLLARS.

SO WE NEED TO HOW THIS THEY'VE DOING IS GOING TO COME AND HELP US WITH PROCESS.

RIGHT?

BECAUSE WE NEED FOR THOSE.

1000 PEOPLE RECEIVED NOTICES OF BEING THEY DON'T.

AND SOME OF THESE CASES OVER HERE IN THE TRUNK.

>> THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD APPROVES A SETTLEMENT OVER CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK.

CPS WAS HIT WITH 2 LAWSUITS AFTER THE 2015 LEAK AT A JEFFERSON PARK SCHOOL.

AT LEAST 71 STUDENTS 7 ADULTS WERE SENT TO THE HOSPITAL FROM CROSSING ELEMENTARY, THE CHICAGO FIGHT.

THE CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT FOUND HIGH LEVELS OF CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE BUILDING.

THE FULL BOARD APPROVED THE $800,000 PAY OUT EARLIER TODAY.

PIZZA LOVERS LISTEN UP AS IF YOU DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW.

CHICAGO HAS SOME OF THE BEST PIZZA IN AMERICA.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY BY PIZZA OVEN MAKER ZILLOW.

THEY ANALYZED GOOGLE REVIEWS FROM THE NATION'S 500 MOST POPULOUS TOWNS AND CITIES WHILE CHICAGO PLACE NEAR THE TOP REAL CHICAGOANS MIGHT FALL GET THE RANKED AT NUMBER 11 NEW YORK CITY ON OF ALL PLACES TOOK THE NUMBER ONE SPOT NOW HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE BOTH TO HAVE BOTH.

THEY'RE BOTH REALLY GOOD.

BUT NEW YORK HAS IS REALLY GOOD DOLLAR PIZZA.

NOW UP NEXT, DEBATING THE END OF A CONTROVERSIAL STATE SCHOLARSHIP.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> 2 >> LOCAL PRIVATE SCHOOLS SAY THEY'RE SHUTTING DOWN BECAUSE OF THE END OF THE STATE'S TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

FRANCIS OF ROME SCHOOL AND SETTLE AND EVEN THOUGH SCHOOL IN BERWYN CLAIM THEY'RE ON A FINANCIAL CLIFF WITH MORE THAN HALF OF THEIR STUDENTS FULL OR PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS.

THE CONTROVERSIAL PROGRAM KNOWN AS INVEST IN KIDS TOOK DONATIONS FROM PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES.

USE THAT MONEY TO SUBSIDIZE STUDENT TUITION FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AT PRIVATE AND TRADE SCHOOLS.

BUT THE PROGRAM EXPIRED LAST YEAR.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ON WHAT LIES AHEAD.

OUR FATHER BRENDAN KRON IN THE FROM THE RESURRECTION PROJECT.

EVA LEAVE LOBOS PARENTS AT SINGLE SCHOOL IN CHICAGO.

SHE IS A PARENT OF A TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT.

IDEA OF THE MEETING IS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER IN THE CHICAGO TEACHERS.

UNION MEMBER.

AND I THE BIRDS, A PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENT IN BERWYN.

A THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US NOW.

THIS IS HAS BEEN A HOT TOPIC AND FATHER KRONE.

WANT TO GO TO YOU.

WHAT IMPACT IS THIS HAVING ON PRIVATE SCHOOLS NOW AT THE PROGRAM EXPIRED?

>> WELL, IT'S AN ALARMING PIECE OF NEWS FOR FAMILIES ACROSS SCHOOL'S.

FIRST OF ALL, I'M PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THE RESURRECTION PROJECT.

PROVIDE ROBUST SUPPORT.

STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND SYSTEMS ALL ACROSS OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

ONE OF THOSE THAT'S GETTING A BIG HIT RIGHT NOW IS THAT DIFFICULT NEWS.

THE TRAGIC NEWS OF THE CONCLUSION OF THE TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER 40,000 SCHOLARSHIPS LARGELY TOO BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY NEEDY FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> I WANT TO GO TO YOU SOME OF THE QUESTION TO YOU.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM SAYING GO DO FIND YOURSELF IN A SIMILAR SITUATION THEY CURRENTLY ARE TRYING TO TELL US, YOU KNOW, DON'T PANIC, IS KIND OF HARD TO DO THAT.

YOU YES, LOOK AT THAT POINT.

I AM.

I HAVE GIRLS.

>> ONE THAT UNFORTUNATELY WAS JUST DIAGNOSED WITH, YOU BEHAVIORAL AND COGNITIVE ISSUES GOT HER THROUGH ADOPTION AND NOW I'M TASKED WITH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT AM I GOING TO DO TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR GIRLS AT THAT SCHOOL?

>> THAT CAN BE CHALLENGING MOST CAPITAL NAYELI.

I WANT TO GO TO YOUR IN BERWYN WHERE ONE OF THE SCHOOLS IS SLATED TO CLOSE.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, AS PERIOD OVER PUBLIC SCHOOL ELEMENTARY TO ELEMENTARY STUDENTS.

YOU KNOW, WE STRUGGLE WITH LOSING A LOT OF FUNDING AND DISTRICT.

THAT WOULD BE OFF TO 10 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS ARE ENGLISH THAT WOULD BE 3RD OF THEM.

ONE-FIFTH OF THEM ARE DISABILITY.

OUR SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAM.

SO WE NEED THAT FUNDING TO GO BACK TO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I HEARD THE CONCERN OF A MOTHER.

WE HAVE A GREAT SUPPORT IN A PUBLIC SCHOOLS WE WE NEED THAT FUNDING AS STUDENTS ARE GETTING SHORTED LIKE UP TO $3500 A YEAR FOR PEOPLE.

SO WE WILL NEED THAT FUNDING BACK TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> ELADIO GOING TO SEE 2 HAS BEEN ADVOCATING PROGRAM.

HOW WELL.

>> ONE I WANT TO WE EMPATHIZE WITH YOUR FEAR.

IT'S NEVER OK TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL.

AS WE KNOW, 50 SCHOOLS WERE SHUTTERED AND 2013 BY MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL.

SO WE KNOW VERY WELL WHAT IT'S LIKE TO FEEL THE IMPACT OF SCHOOL CLOSURES.

NOW THIS PROGRAM IS ABOUT YOUR PROGRAM THAT WAS STARTED BY BRUCE RAUNER, SOMEONE WHO CHEERED ON THE CLOSINGS OF SCHOOLS.

IT WAS STARTED.

AND REALLY IT WAS PART PART OF BARGAINING PROCESS IN ORDER FOR HIM TO EVEN PASS BUDGET THAT WOULD FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO HOW IRONIC THAT IN ORDER TO FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HE WANTED A PROGRAM THAT WOULD THEN TAKE FUNDING AWAY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HAS SINCE THEN SIPHONED HUNDREDS OF MILLION DOLLARS AWAY.

NOW IT WAS CAN THE SUNSET WHEN IT STARTED SINCE THEN HAS GIVEN AN EXTENSION.

AND SO NOW WHAT WE ASKED FOR RECEIVED WAS THIS SENSE THAT WAS THE END OF THAT PROGRAM WAS THE END OF THE SIPHONING OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING 2 >> FROM WHAT HE'S SAYING.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES FOR YOU WHEN PICKING WHAT SCHOOL YOU KNOW?

PUT YOUR DIDN'T BELIEVE HER DAUGHTER TRIED LOOKING INTO BEFORE I WAS PUT IN THIS SITUATION.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, I DID NOT HAVE THE HELP THAT I NEEDED.

AND THE ONLY INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE ABLE TO HELP WITH MY SITUATION.

A PRIVATE SCHOOL IT WAS SAD.

YOU KNOW THAT I DID NOT GET THAT HELPING HAND.

WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR IT FROM OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT POTENTIALLY DIDN'T HAPPEN.

AND, YOU I DON'T THINK THAT.

BUT FIRST, CALLING IT A POACHER'S, NOT THE RIGHT WORD.

IT'S IT'S A TAX CREDIT.

AND OPTIONAL OP PROGRAM THAT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO CAN TIP YOU CAN DO SO.

IT'S BASED AND THE OPTION WHETHER DONOR WANTS TO CALL AHEAD AND PUT BOTH FIGHT.

SO THE OTHER KIDS WITH LOWER INCOME CAN GO AHEAD AND AND AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF RESOURCES TO CALL IT A PRIVATE SCHOOL AND GOING INTO PRIVATE SCHOOL DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT IT INDIVIDUALS WITH TIMING NOT PROFIT FROM THERE'S A LOT OF INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE SCHOLARSHIPS AND IT'S GREAT TO HAVE OPTIONS WERE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANSWERS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES AT OTHER SCHOOLS.

YOU KNOW, PAT, MAYBE YOU MIGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE COMMENT.

BUT AT THE MOMENT, MY KIDS WERE NOT ABLE TO CAN TELL.

THIS IS THIS IS EMOTIONAL FOR YOU, BUT IT'S NOT.

I WANT TO BRING SOMETHING UP ON THE SCREEN OF THE STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE 2021.

22 SCHOLAR AT TWENTY-TWO.

>> SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND PRIVATE SCHOOL ABOUT 57% WERE WHITE.

ALMOST 30% LATINO AND JUST UNDER 18% WERE BLACK.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO CHALK BEAT CHICAGO.

I WANT TO GO TO YOU.

FATHER KRON TO BELIEVE THE PROGRAM WAS MEETING DEMOGRAPHIC OR INTENDED GOALS.

I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT THE PROGRAM HAS ACTUALLY SERVED THE MAJORITY OF THE RECIPIENTS OF THE TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

>> HAVE GONE TO BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES.

THERE HAS BEEN A MISREPRESENTATION IN DATA.

SO LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

>> CHICAGO JESUIT ACADEMY HAD OVER 130 STUDENTS ON THAT TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP IN THE PERIOD THAT THE PUBLISHED ONLY 10 STUDENTS WERE ON THE REGISTER OF THE STATE WHEN ACTUALITY OVER 130 STUDENTS, 100% BLACK STUDENTS WERE RECIPIENTS OF THE TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIPS.

SO WE'VE FIRSTHAND THE TIFFANY SCHOOL, 88 STUDENTS, 100% HISPANIC IDENTIFYING FAMILIES, THEIR FAMILIES AT SAINT FRANCIS OF ROME SCHOOL ARE ALMOST 70% OF THE STUDENT BODY ON THE TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP, 100%.

OUR HISPANIC IDENTIFYING FAMILIES, ALL OF THE RECIPIENTS ARE IMPOVERISHED FAMILIES.

ACCORDING THE SCALE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

REALLY?

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT ON WHAT FATHER KRON IS SAYING?

>> AM I GOING TO SAY ALSO, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC, IS NOT ONLY FOCUS FOR EXAMPLE, THINK HISPANIC POPULATION, BUT HOW MANY THOSE ARE ENGLISH LEARNERS AND IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS AT MEETING, THOSE NEEDS LIKE OPPOSED TO WHAT WE HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN NORTH DISTRICT 98, WHICH ALL OF THE SCHOOLS INCLUDE A MIDDLE SCHOOLS HAVE LANGUAGE PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP KIDS TRANSITION, ESPECIALLY NEWCOMERS, JUST VISION OUR SYSTEM AS ENGLISH LEARNERS.

AND YOU KNOW, FOR THE MOTHER THAT SO HEAVY HEARTED TONIGHT, YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY HAVE SYSTEMS IN PLACE, NOT PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS.

SO WHAT WE WHAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN IS THAT WE WILL GET EVEN MORE RESOURCES >> WERE FUNNELED AWAY FROM TO IMPROVE THESE PROGRAMS.

>> WELL, THE EVA SAYING THAT SHE'S HAVING A HARD TIME SEEING THOSE RESOURCES IN I DO WANT TO GO TO YOU.

PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THIS PROGRAM BRINGS MORE OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE CAN'T AFFORD THE HIGH PRICE OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

SHOULDN'T PARENTS HAVE A CHOICE?

IT'S GOOD THAT I DO WANT TO RESPOND TO SOMETHING THAT FATHER.

>> BRENDA NICELY DIDN'T SPEAK, TOO, WHICH IS THIS THAT THAT YOU JUST LAID OUT?

18% WERE BLACK STUDENTS.

THAT'S LESS THAN ONE IN 5.

THAT IS NOT MEETING THE PROMISE THAT THEY GAVE US IN THE BEGINNING.

>> AND THAT'S LET'S TALK MORE STAFF AND FUNDING, RIGHT?

BECAUSE FRANCIS WAS IS RECEIVING $60,000 FROM THIS BOUCHER SAINT OF THE LOW IS RECEIVING $130,000 1000 FROM THIS VOUCHER.

TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE OF SALARIES, ONE TEACHER FOR SAY FRONT SAINT FRANCIS EXCUSE ME AND 2 TEACHERS ARE SAYING BELOW WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

BIG SHOULDERS FUND, ORGANIZATION THAT FATHER WORKS FOR PART OF THE SON, THE NETWORK FUNDS A LOT OF THE SCHOOLS.

I'M SURE THEY ALSO FUND SAME COW.

THEY HAVE GENERAL, NOT REVENUE.

63 MILLION DOLLARS.

WE SAID FROM THE GET-GO.

DONORS WANT DONATE TO THE SCHOOLS.

THEY CAN.

THEY CAN DO DIRECTLY.

THE THE HAVE TO END.

I HAVE A VERY PERSONAL CONDUCT IN CONNECTION TO A CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ACTUALLY GREW UP IN SAINT PIUS, THE VERY SAME CHURCH THAT FATHER BRENDAN TODD.

HE WAS MY PRIEST FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

YOU KNOW, EACH WE KNOW EACH OTHER VERY WELL.

MY BROTHERS WENT TO WENT TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL, WHICH IS TO BE THE COMPROMISE HERE.

IF THEY IF IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY TO BRING INVESTING KIDS BACK.

WELL.

>> I DO WANT TO GET TO YOUR QUESTION, THOUGH, TO IS THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IS THAT SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE EXISTED FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS PRIVATE SCHOOLS FOR VERY LONG TIME BEFORE THIS VOUCHER PROGRAM.

THEY CAN CONTINUE TO EXIST IF THEY WANTED THEY WANT TO FUND THEM.

THEY CAN CONTINUE TO FUND THEM.

THERE IS NO NO COMPROMISE AND BRINGING A PROGRAM LIKE THIS BACK BECAUSE THE SIPHONS AWAY MONEY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT ARE COMMON DOUBLE TO THE PEOPLE WANT SO SO WHAT WE NEED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT HILARIO I FIRST OF SO APPLIED NOW YOUR SOUTH.

>> BECAUSE EVA YOURSELVES, WE NEED TO MULTIPLY MORE ADVOCATES FOR QUALITY, RESOURCING AND EDUCATION.

WHAT YOU DO, I'M ALWAYS INSPIRED BY WILL YET LEE BEING INVOLVED IN YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

TREMENDOUS, BUT WE NEED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON SOME MYTHS AROUND HERE.

OKAY.

100 AND FORCING FRANCES OF ROME STUDENTS ARE IN THIS SCHOOL NOW ON THE TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE STATE LEVEL, SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES REFUSED TO EVEN VOTE UP OR DOWN ON WHETHER THEY OR NOT.

THEY WANT TO CONTINUE THAT PROGRAM.

WHY DOES THAT MATTER?

BECAUSE IT FORCED THE HAND OF A CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT LAST WEEK AT SAINT FRANCIS OF ROME SCHOOL.

WHY?

>> BECAUSE THE TOTAL STUDENT BODIES, 170 STUDENTS, THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS, 104 ON TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP.

IT'S GOT WORSE.

ARE NOT VOUCHERS.

VOUCHER IS WHAT YOU HAVE IN WISCONSIN.

YOU TAKE A CHECK.

YOU HANDED TO THE SCHOOL OTHER.

THAT'S NOT AN FATHER.

WE HAVE TO GO.

BUT THANK YOU FOR THIS CONVERSATION.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY STILL MORE TO TALK ABOUT AND WE WILL OUR THANKS TO FATHER BRENDAN CURRENT LEIVA VILLALOBOS.

A LOT OF THE MEETING IS IN THE YELLOW BIRDS.

>> UP NEXT, WHY ADVOCATES WANT TO SEE MORE SUPPORT FOR BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND CPS?

>> MORE THAN 5,000 ENGLISH LEARNERS HAVE ENROLLED IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

MANY OF WHOM ARE THE CHILDREN OF MIGRANT FAMILIES.

INFLUX IS SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON THE SHORTAGE OF BILINGUAL INSTRUCTORS AND SERVICES AT SCHOOLS.

THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION IS CALLING FOR FEDERAL SUPPORT TO HELP TACKLE THE ISSUE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE LINDA AN ORGANIZER WITH THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION AND FORMER SPECIAL EDUCATION AND BILINGUAL TEACHER FOR CHICAGO.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND IVICA VAN DER LACK.

NOW THEY DO VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION POLICY AND RESEARCH AT THE LATINO POLICY THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO GO TO LINDA.

HOW MUCH DOES IT?

HOW MUCH WOULD YOU SAY THE INFLUX OF NEW ARRIVALS STUDENTS HAVE IMPACTED SCHOOLS?

>> YEAH, THINK IT'S BEEN A HUGE IMPACT.

HONESTLY, WE HEAR CONSTANTLY FROM OUR MEMBERS, THEY RIGHT.

5300 NEWCOMERS ENROLLED IN THE DISTRICT AND ALL OF THE SCHOOLS ARE FEELING IT WE'RE HEARING FROM OUR MEMBERS, RIGHT?

THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL BILINGUAL TEACHERS, ADDITIONAL TEA'S RESOURCES IN CURRICULUM AND THE STUDENTS NATIVE LANGUAGE, ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS FOR THAT ARE HOMELESS RADAR DISTRICT 17,000 HOMELESS STUDENTS PRIOR TO THEIR ARRIVAL OF NEWCOMERS.

AND THAT NUMBER HAS INCREASED EVEN MORE AND I THINK THE NEEDS THAT WERE APPARENT PREVIOUS TO THE ARRIVAL OF NEWCOMERS HAS BEEN EVEN INTENSIFIED WITH THE ARRIVAL OF NEWCOMERS IMPROVISE MORE CHALLENGES.

REBECCA, HOW DOES THIS IMPACT A STUDENT'S ABILITY TO LEARN WHAT TO SAY?

YEAH.

AND BY THE WAY, I JUST WANT TO STOP AND SAY HOW THANKFUL I AM THAT YOU'RE COVERING THIS TOPIC.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE WITH FOLKS ON THE GROUND AND IS REALLY NEEDS TO BE AN ALL HANDS ON DECK.

>> SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE THESE KIDS CAN SUCCEED.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO AS WE DIVE INTO THIS TO REALLY STATE BILINGUAL EDUCATION WORKS.

WE DID A COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CONSORTIUM ON SCHOOL RESEARCH.

THEY LOOKED AT MORE THAN 18,000 KIDDOS WHO NEEDED SUPPORT IN DEVELOPING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE WHILE SUPPORTING THEIR HOME LANGUAGE.

THOSE KIDS WHEN THEY FOLLOWED THEM, WENT ON TO OUTPERFORM THE SYSTEM.

SO THESE KIDS CAN AND WILL DO WELL.

BUT WE NEED THE TEACHERS AND WE NEED THE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEM.

THAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO SUPPORT SUPPORT THE STUDENTS AND SUPPORT THEIR FUTURE.

AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN STEPS IN THAT DIRECTION, BUT NEED FEDERAL SUPPORT.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THE STATE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS REALLY LISTENING TO FOLKS ON THE GROUND.

WE KNOW IS HE TO YOU WAS INVOLVED IN COURT HEARINGS AND OTHER TEACHERS TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE AT THE STATE LEVEL, IT'S CALM FROM 19,000 NEWCOMERS TO 36,000 OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD.

YEAH.

AND NOT TO ALSO MENTION THE SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS.

YES, YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT THAT JUST THE NEED INCREASED.

NOW, LINDA, BE ON THE ARRIVALS.

THIS HAS BEEN A LONGSTANDING CONCERN OF TEACHERS.

WHAT HAVE BEEN THE CHALLENGE IS FINDING MORE BILINGUAL TEACHERS.

CAN YOU TOUCH ON >> YEAH, FOR SURE.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT THERE'S DEFINITELY A NEED FOR A PIPELINE OF BILINGUAL TOO, TO REACH THE CLASS TO READ BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING THAT THERE IS THAT NEED.

AND ADDITIONALLY, CAN MENTION TEA'S THAT CAN SUPPORT IN SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW WHERE THE SUPPORT IS IMMEDIATE RATE BECAUSE TO GO THROUGH THAT PIPELINE TO GO THROUGH A PROGRAM TAKES A FEW YEARS.

BUT WE NEED SUPPORT IN THE IN THE CLASSROOM, RIGHT IN MOMENT.

IT'S A POWER THAT SUPPORT LOOK LIKE.

YEAH, I THINK THEY CAN LOOK IN IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, HONEST.

AND I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE I THINK LIKE I MENTIONED RATE.

IT'S FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE WERE TO RIGHT NOW IN THE CLASSROOM COULD COULD MADE OF WHICH SUPPORT.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING SCHOOLS THAT MAY NOT HAVE BILINGUAL SERVICES AND NEED NATIVE LANGUAGE SUPPORT RATE.

WE ARE IN CONVERSATION WITH CPS APART STARTING A T A POOL TO TO SAINT TEA'S TO THAT MEET THE SUPPORTS AND REBECCA BILINGUAL INSTRUCTION ONLY GOES UP TO 5TH GRADE.

WHY?

JUST 5TH GRADE.

SO BILINGUAL EDUCATION ACTUALLY BE EXTENDED.

IF THERE SUFFICIENT STUDENTS IN THAT SCHOOL SYSTEM.

>> AND ONE THING I WANTED TO JUST COMPLIMENT THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS PROPOSED 35 MILLION IN THE STATE BUDGET FOR NEWCOMERS.

IT'S A LINE LINE ITEM FOR THIS POPULATION FOR THE THINGS THAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.

BILINGUAL TEACHERS, YOU CAN USE IT FOR SOCIAL WORKER STAFF.

WE KNOW THE STUDENTS NOT JUST ACADEMICALLY.

THEY'RE STRONG AND SO WOULD JUST SAY THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE SO AT MONEY IS BEING PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET WE CAN TO THROUGH.

SO IF I WAS OUT TALK TO LEGISLATURE, LEGISLATORS SO WE CAN VOTE IN SUPPORT OF IT, BUT THOSE DOLLARS WOULD BE APPROVED BY THE SPRING.

SO THAT WOULD BE FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

APPROVED 35 MILLION DOLLARS IS A GREAT START AND WE NEED MORE BECAUSE LIKE I'M MENTIONING WAY, TEACHERS ARE SEEING SO MANY NEEDS IN THE CLASSROOM AND THEY ARE DOING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN WITH WHAT THEY HAVE.

>> AND THEY'RE DOING RIGHT THE MOST.

AND WE NEED LIKE THE THE BUT THE FROM THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOING TO TALKING ABOUT THAT RECENTLY SEE 2 CALLED OFF FOR MORE FEDERAL SUPPORT.

DOES THIS GO BEYOND FUNDING AND HOW WOULD THIS SUPPORT HELP THIS ISSUE?

>> BUT MONEY WOULD HELP IMMENSELY 8 TO GET THESE THESE RESOURCES, THIS CURRICULUM.

BUT EDUCATORS, THE TEA'S INTO THE CLASSROOM US TELL US SUPPORTS THAT ARE NEEDED.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING OUR TEACHERS THAT RIGHT, COLLECTING COATS, COLLECTING BOOTS, COLLECTING SCARRED.

SO THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING.

THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING COLLECTING FOOD FOR FAMILIES THAT NEED IT.

AND THIS ADDITIONAL MONETARY SUPPORT CAN HELP RIGHT LIKE TO MEET THOSE NEEDS THAT WE'RE RECORD.

YOU DID TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT RIGHT NOW.

WHAT MORE EFFORTS FROM THE STATE AND CITY HAVE BEEN MADE TO RECRUIT BILINGUAL TEACHERS?

IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TOWARDS SCHOLARSHIP THERE'S A MINORITY TEACHER, ILLINOIS SCHOLARSHIP.

THERE'S A SET ASIDE FOR BILINGUAL.

>> THE GOVERNOR PUT 45 MILLION INTO TEACHER VACANCY.

CRANSTON, A LOT OF DISTRICTS WITH WITH POPULATIONS.

I THINK THIS SPECIFIC LINE ITEM, THOUGH, THE 35 MILLION IS GOING TO BE HUGE TO SUPPORT THESE KIDS.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WOULD WORK IN THE LONG RUN?

I THINK IN THE LONG RUN, WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT CREATIVE WAYS TO TAP INTO A PIPELINE OF BILINGUAL TEACHERS.

WE HAVE WONDERFUL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RIGHT NOW ON THEIR WAY TO GETTING THE STATE SEAL A BY LITERACY.

THERE'S A WONDERFUL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM CALLED EDUCATORS RISING GREAT THEY TAPPED INTO THOSE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND GOT THEM INSPIRED.

THERE'S FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITIES RIGHT NOW THAT SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH, MAYBE HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN ANOTHER ANOTHER AREA.

THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET A PROVISIONAL LICENSE AND BE SUPPORTED TO GET A DEGREE.

AND I THINK LINDA REALLY SPOKE WELL ABOUT PARA PROFESSIONALS.

WE KNOW THERE ARE MORE DIVERSE THAN OR TEACHER PIPELINE.

WHAT KIND OF TRAINING AND SUPPORT CAN WE GIVE WINDOW WILL HAVE A COUPLE SECONDS.

WHAT DO YOU?

THERE ARE YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PARA MENTOR PROGRAMS AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

AND THOSE PARA MENTORS CAN USED AS SO WE NEED THAT SUPPORT IN ORDER TO GET THEM INTO TO DO THIS.

WE CAN HELP THE STUDENTS SUCCEED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS CONVERSATION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS TO LINDA PINELLAS IN THE BACK OF A VAN DER LECK NEVADO.

UP NEXT, A RESTAURANT WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF FOOD NOT TO FAMILY.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

CHICAGO RESTAURANT WEEK IS DISHING OUT EXAMPLES OF THE CITY'S DIVERSE AND DELICIOUS.

CULINARY SCENE.

THE 17 DAY CELEBRATION KICKED OFF ON JANUARY 19TH.

IT INVITES DINERS TO GET OUT AND TRY NEW EATERIES WITH SPECIALIZED MENUS FOR BRUNCH LUNCH AND DINNER.

WE STOPPED BY ONE PARTICIPATING RESTAURANT SEE IN THE WEST LOOP.

THAT'S SERVING UP A MODERN TAKE ON TRADITIONAL MEXICAN CUISINE.

>> PEOPLE EXPECT, YOU KNOW, MEXICAN RESTAURANTS TO BE SUPER COLORFUL AND WE WANT MORE WOULD LIKE A A KIND OF LIKE SHADES AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, ERA OF, YOU KNOW, MAKE HE'S BEEN HERE ALMOST 7 YEARS WERE AUTHENTIC.

MODERN MEXICAN CUISINE.

>> ANY WAS INSPIRED BY THE MAJORITY IS GOING TO CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MAKE PEOPLE SO WE DON'T COOK ONLY FROM 9, ONE SPECIFIC WEEKEND.

WE LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT AND TAKE THINGS FROM OTHER TO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU COME HERE, YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY JUST KIND OF TASTE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING FROM A KEY GOAL.

I DECIDED TO NAME THE RESTAURANT AFTER A MELEE SUBPOENA.

SHE WAS THE FIRST PERSON THAT GAVE ME MY FIRST LIKE KITCHEN JOB.

WHEN I WAS 11 YEARS OLD AND I WAS THE DISHWASHER, HER RESTAURANT.

WE MAKE THE TAMALES THAT YOU MAY SEE COMMITTEE FOR MY EVERY TIME IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY.

SHE ASKED ME LIKE, HEY, WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR DINNER FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?

AND I WAS REQUEST THAT THE MILEAGE.

SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT'S PART OF ONE OF THE MANY DISHES THAT WE HIGHLIGHT HERE THAT IS LIKE VERY LIKE HOME IN TRADITIONAL AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A REALLY GREAT REPRESENTATION OF THE RESTAURANT AND WHAT HE THOUGHT THE NOT THE WAY THAT WE WE CONNECT BOTH GENERATIONS IS BY COOKING AND KEEPING THOSE FULL OF THE RECIPES AND MAKING THEM TASTE WHAT THEY REALLY SHOULD TASTE LIKE.

AND THEN ALL WE DO OBVIOUSLY LOVING PRESENTATION.

AND THEN THIS GUESS UP EATING MEXICAN CUISINE.

THEY CAN STILL ENJOY THE FLAVORS, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE MORE APPEALING PRESENTATION, TELLING GREETINGS.

AND WE UP ENJOYING AND THAT THEY MAKE SENSE WITH THE EVERYTHING WE DO IS DEFINITELY INSPIRED.

AND, YOU KNOW, DRIVEN OUR MEXICAN ROOTS.

>> I TRIED THE FOOD AND IT WAS DELICIOUS.

I THINK WAS ONE OF MY BEST THINGS THAT I LOVE THE MOST ABOUT IS THAT THEY HAVE HOME A 3RD THE CHEF'S KISS.

JUST SAY RESTAURANT WEEK RUNS THROUGH FEBRUARY 4TH.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE WTW DOT COM SLASH NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM W T TW NEWS AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5.37, FOR THE WEEK IN REVIEW.

NOW FROM ALL OF US HERE CHICAGO TONIGHT AT THE YOU KNOW, VOICES, I'M JOINED THAT AND THEN THIS STAY HEALTHY.

STAY SAFE WHEN US NOT >> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM