CHICAGO – A bill that requires an Illinois panel to evaluate the state's bilingual education programs is now law.

Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation Thursday that mandates the Illinois Advisory Council on Bilingual Education to examine bilingual programs and their success. They must present a report to lawmakers and state education officials by Jan. 1.

The Illinois State Board of Education says there are more than 180,000 students in Illinois whose first language isn't English. That's about 10 percent of all students.