District reports full bilingual program implementation through fifth grade, to file TEA exceptions for teacher certification

The Perryton ISD Director of Emergent Bilingual Education reported the district has reached full implementation of its bilingual program through fifth grade and outlined academic progress and staffing certification challenges.

“...we’ve achieved full implementation of our bilingual program,” Angelie Hamill, the district’s director of emergent bilingual programs, told trustees. Hamill said 36 percent of the district’s students are emergent bilinguals and that during the 2024–25 school year 31 percent of assessed students improved by one English proficiency level, up from 27 percent the previous year.

Hamill also reported 60 students across grade levels were reclassified last year as English proficient after meeting assessment criteria. She noted the district plans to file exemption requests with the Texas Education Agency because several teachers assigned to bilingual or ESL instruction lack the required certification. Hamill said the district will include six teachers on a bilingual exception list and 17 teachers on an ESL exception list for the coming filing cycle; TEA requires documentation and the district must demonstrate progress toward certification.

Hamill described steps the district will take to improve teacher certification numbers, including an alternative certification academy and targeted supports for teachers preparing for certification exams. “We have some very hard-working teachers doing some great things,” she told trustees, inviting board members to visit classrooms with bilingual and ESL instruction.

Board discussion did not produce formal action; trustees received the report and asked staff to continue work on certification supports and on meeting state accountability targets tied to waiver approvals.