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Bilingual/ESL director outlines dual-language enrollment, biliteracy pathway and state recognition
Summary
Kilgore ISD's bilingual/ESL director reported the district serves roughly 781 emergent bilingual students (about 23-24% of enrollment), outlined the dual-language program and described how students can earn Spanish credit and a state performance acknowledgment in biliteracy.
The district's director of bilingual/ESL told trustees Kilgore ISD serves roughly 781 students in English-language learning programs and is building a clearer biliteracy pathway from pre-K through high school.
"I usually use the number 781 students, which translates to between 23 close to 24%, of our students in Kilgore ISD are EBs," David Giesz said during a department spotlight. He described a dual-language immersion program serving about 450 students in pre-K through fifth grade and an English-as-a-second-language program serving about 350 students from pre-K through grade 12; those numbers are approximate and change as enrollments fluctuate.
Giesz described steps the district is taking to maintain students' academic progress while they acquire English, including middle-school Spanish class expansion and opportunities for students who progress through the dual-language track to earn high-school Spanish credits early. He said a recent cohort included students who earned Spanish I and II credit entering high school.
He also highlighted the state's performance acknowledgment for biliteracy, which students can earn by completing Spanish I, II and III credit and other state criteria. "It looks great on a college application," he said, and the district is encouraging a bilingual, biliterate and bicultural outcome for students.
The presentation noted Title III funding supports several positions, and the district is working to certify more teachers to provide ESL instruction.
What happens next: District staff will continue expanding the biliteracy pathway and supporting teacher certification and programming that supports both emergent bilingual and native English-speaking students participating in dual-language instruction.
