WISD presents bilingual/ESL update, advising grant work and HB3 goals for literacy, math and CCMR

District staff briefed the Waxahachie ISD Board of Trustees on several academic program updates: the bilingual/ESL annual report, progress under the Effective Advising Framework (EAF) grant, and updated HB3 goals for early literacy, early math and college, career and military readiness (CCMR).

Bilingual/ESL. Brandy Morris, director of curriculum and instruction, reported the districts emergent bilingual population at about 1,190 students and said dual-language program participation is growing. Morris said 153 students opted into the dual-language program this year (up from 134), and the district recorded roughly 110 denials. She highlighted that Ray Elementary and Shackleford Elementary showed strong TELPAS progress (77%), and that fifth-grade dual-language students earned increasing numbers of high-school Spanish 1 credits in recent years. Morris said the district is working on a waiver plan with finance and HR because roughly 37 of the teachers assigned to emergent bilingual students do not yet hold ESL certification; the waiver would be submitted to the state to allow continuity while staff complete certification requirements.

Effective Advising Framework (EAF). A district staff member reported on EAF grant work funded by the Texas Education Agency to improve individual student planning and counseling services. The district reported exemplary ratings on quarterly TEA reports and noted several initiatives: TSI "blitz" days that provided targeted instruction and produced a 55% passing rate among participants; broadened FAFSA and dual-credit outreach in collaboration with colleges; expansion of graduation planning from a four-year to a seven-year template to guide students beginning in junior high; and purchases of CTE instructional materials. Staff said CTE industry-based certification pass rates improved after materials were provided—automotive technology pass rates increased from 26% to 48% and cosmetology written-exam pass rates rose from 56% to 86%.

HB3 goals: early literacy, early math and CCMR. District leaders presented updated multi-year targets aligned with House Bill 3 reporting requirements. For early literacy, the district reported third-grade "meets" or higher on the STAR summative at about 45% currently and set incremental targets (including a near-term target of roughly 49%). For early math, the district reported third-grade "meets" or higher at about 39% now and set a target of 50% by August 2028 with an interim target of about 45% next year.

For CCMR, staff said the district's baseline was 74% of graduates meeting CCMR criteria in 2023-24 and presented an aspirational target of 100% by 2027-28. The presentation included progress measures tied to CCMR: industry-based certifications (38% → 50% target by 2027-28), TSIA2 college-readiness attainment (40% → 57%), AP exam scores of 3–5 (8% → 12%), and dual-credit completion (29% → 37%). Trustees asked clarifying questions about the certifications and the connection between purchases of CTE materials and increased pass rates; presenters confirmed the materials were related to improved certification outcomes in automotive and cosmetology.