Keep the TWI program at Willard School
Keep the TWI program at Willard School
The Issue
Our community is at a crossroads as we are seeing a significant part of our educational landscape threatened. We know that D65 has a lot of tough decisions ahead of it. And we are asking them to keep the Two-Way Immersion (TWI) program at Willard School in North Evanston. It isn't just an educational initiative; it's a lifeline for our children and community. We believe that the Hispanic/Latino families in North Evanston are unseen, and their needs are misunderstood. We want to ask the D65 Board to see us, hear us, and understand our needs.
The TWI program at Willard stands alone as North Evanston's bastion of bilingual education, a distinction that sets our school apart and enriches its educational offerings. We've been told the plan is to attend the new Foster school, but both the Bessie and Willard TWI communities literally cannot fit into Foster - class sizes would be 20% over capacity.
They also claim that they must shut down the 8th strand of TWI due to the expense and these expenses are most impactful with low enrollment. The district's Willard strand of TWI is projected to have said low enrollment; however, the Hispanic population in Evanston is growing:
- Specifically in Wards 6 & 7, the Latino and Hispanic population grew 34% from 2010 to 2020. By 2020, 10% of Evanston's Latino and Hispanic community was living in Wards 6 &7.
- According to D65 data, K-5 enrollment dropped 6% while the number of K-5 students enrolled in TWI increased by 13% (Source: Opening of Schools Report 2024-2025), making this decision even more confounding.
By signing this petition, you're not just supporting a program—you're committing to preserving an educational method that benefits our children and community at large. Let us urge the school board to recognize the intrinsic value of the TWI program at Willard and ensure its continuance for future generations of students.
Join us in rallying behind an irreplaceable asset to our community. Please sign this petition and make your voice heard for the future of our children at Willard School.
234
The Issue
Our community is at a crossroads as we are seeing a significant part of our educational landscape threatened. We know that D65 has a lot of tough decisions ahead of it. And we are asking them to keep the Two-Way Immersion (TWI) program at Willard School in North Evanston. It isn't just an educational initiative; it's a lifeline for our children and community. We believe that the Hispanic/Latino families in North Evanston are unseen, and their needs are misunderstood. We want to ask the D65 Board to see us, hear us, and understand our needs.
The TWI program at Willard stands alone as North Evanston's bastion of bilingual education, a distinction that sets our school apart and enriches its educational offerings. We've been told the plan is to attend the new Foster school, but both the Bessie and Willard TWI communities literally cannot fit into Foster - class sizes would be 20% over capacity.
They also claim that they must shut down the 8th strand of TWI due to the expense and these expenses are most impactful with low enrollment. The district's Willard strand of TWI is projected to have said low enrollment; however, the Hispanic population in Evanston is growing:
- Specifically in Wards 6 & 7, the Latino and Hispanic population grew 34% from 2010 to 2020. By 2020, 10% of Evanston's Latino and Hispanic community was living in Wards 6 &7.
- According to D65 data, K-5 enrollment dropped 6% while the number of K-5 students enrolled in TWI increased by 13% (Source: Opening of Schools Report 2024-2025), making this decision even more confounding.
By signing this petition, you're not just supporting a program—you're committing to preserving an educational method that benefits our children and community at large. Let us urge the school board to recognize the intrinsic value of the TWI program at Willard and ensure its continuance for future generations of students.
Join us in rallying behind an irreplaceable asset to our community. Please sign this petition and make your voice heard for the future of our children at Willard School.
234
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on October 8, 2025