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Taylor ISD reports rise in emergent bilingual enrollment, small increase in reclassifications and expanded supports
Summary
District staff reported 615 emergent bilingual students (up from 599), 24 students reclassified this year (up from 22), expanded bilingual staffing supports and stipend levels for certificated and non-certificated bilingual/ESL teachers, and monthly family engagement activities.
Taylor Independent School District staff presented the district's annual emergent bilingual (bilingual/ESL) program update Monday, reporting an increase in enrollment and incremental gains in student reclassification.
Staff reported 615 students enrolled in the district's emergent bilingual programs this year, up from 599 last year. According to the presentation, 24 students were reclassified this year after meeting proficiency criteria (up from 22 the previous year). The district said a new bilingual district-level position has been hired to provide additional family engagement and program support.
Program staff described program types and service delivery: a one-way dual-language immersion program in Spanish that provides instruction in both English and Spanish, elementary ESL content-based instruction delivered by ESL-certified teachers, and middle/high-school ESL pullout or inclusion services. The district said it aims for reclassification based on TELPAS and to support students' proficiency in English, and in dual-language settings to preserve native-language proficiency.
Staff discussed professional development and staffing strategies: three summer ESL academy opportunities, reimbursement for ESL certification testing upon passing, no-cost first attempts for dual-language certification exams, and stipends to encourage certification (certified dual-language teachers: $7,000 annually; non-certified dual-language teachers: $4,000 annually; ESL teacher stipend: $1,000 annually). The district said it will submit 14 waivers for staff not yet certified and will provide comprehensive PD plans for teachers on waivers.
"Part of making this population feel welcome and seen and heard in schools is parental involvement activities for our parents and our emergent bilingual students," a staff member said. The district said it ran dual-language and ESL summer programming for pre-K, kindergarten and other students identified as needing support.
