In a recent meeting, the Tomball Independent School District (ISD) provided a comprehensive update on its Emergent Bilingual Program, led by Dr. Paloma Moreno, the director of the Multilingual Program. The discussion highlighted the significant growth in the district's emergent bilingual (EB) student population, which currently stands at approximately 15% of the total student body, reflecting a broader trend across Texas where one in four students is classified as emergent bilingual.

Dr. Moreno outlined the various programs offered to support these students, including two-way and one-way dual language programs, as well as English as a Second Language (ESL) support. The district is required by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to provide these programs for students identified through a home language survey during registration. Notably, the district serves 3,375 emergent bilingual students, with 1,046 enrolled in bilingual programs and 2,361 in ESL programs.

The meeting also addressed the academic progress of EB students, showcasing impressive results in standardized testing. Tomball ISD ranked first regionally in reading assessments for both English and Spanish, with a strong emphasis on ensuring students are prepared for future tests in English. The district is committed to continuous improvement, with plans to refine its comparative analysis of student performance against other districts.

Additionally, the meeting discussed the importance of professional development for teachers to better support EB students, particularly those with special education needs. The district is actively working to ensure that all teachers are certified to provide appropriate instruction, with ongoing efforts to help staff gain necessary certifications.

Dr. Moreno concluded with highlights from the district's summer programming, which included engaging activities designed to close language gaps for rising kindergarten and first-grade students. The district's commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for emergent bilingual students remains a priority, as they continue to adapt and grow in response to the needs of their diverse student population.