The Rantoul Press features a story on the Illinois' Rantoul City School district bilingual program. With a cost of $363,735 for this year, school officials explain why the benefits are priceless.

Just two years ago, RCS employed one person in the bilingual program, according to Jason Wallace, principal of Eastlawn School. Today, 14 employees work with 216 English language learner students enrolled in RCS, reports The Rantoul Press.

A teacher and other professionals involved in the program explain its benefits. For instance, Nicole Haegele, the bilingual coordinator at Eastlawn, says bilingual students are to be envied: “[There are] several benefits of being bilingual besides the economic benefit of finding a job. Bilingual people are better at multitasking because they’re better able to focus on multiple things.”

Jacqueline Hoke, a first-grade teacher of bilingual students, agrees. “They’re here to learn and most of their parents are supporting them, and they want them to learn both (languages). The reality is these kids are going to have an advantage.”

Read the complete story here.