In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the ongoing challenges and developments in educational programs for emergent bilingual students within the district. The meeting highlighted the requirement for bilingual programs in grades Pre-K through 6, emphasizing the district's commitment to supporting students who have not yet mastered the English language. Currently, the district operates a one-way dual language program, serving 925 emergent bilingual students, while also providing an ESL program for students with languages other than English and Spanish.

The number of emergent bilingual students has been steadily increasing, reflecting the overall growth of the student population. However, there remains a significant shortage of bilingual teachers, particularly in elementary grades, which has led to the need for a bilingual exception application. The district is currently short seven bilingual teachers, impacting 393 students. This shortage is not unique to the district but is a widespread issue across the Houston area.

In terms of academic progress, the meeting revealed that the reclassification criteria for students transitioning from emergent bilingual to English proficient have been updated. This past spring, 29 elementary students and 142 secondary students successfully reclassified, indicating progress in English proficiency. The district's academic performance was also discussed, with officials noting that recent STAR test results showed a general decline in scores, consistent with state trends. Factors contributing to this decline included changes in testing schedules and increased cut scores for passing.

Despite these challenges, the district remains focused on professional development for teachers, aiming to enhance instructional strategies in bilingual education. The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue addressing the needs of emergent bilingual students and improving overall academic outcomes.