Port Arthur ISD presents 2024–25 bilingual/ESL evaluation; filings of exceptions, waivers fall

Naomi Knowlton, director of the district’s multilingual and migrant programs, presented the Port Arthur ISD 2024–25 bilingual/ESL program evaluation and told the board the report fulfills state requirements under chapter 89 of the Texas Administrative Code.

The presentation said the district served approximately 2,803 emergent bilingual students in 2024–25 — about 34.9% of total enrollment — and implements three language-instruction educational programs: transitional bilingual early-exit, ESL content-based and ESL pullout. "In total, we served last year 2,803 students, which is 34.9% of our total enrollment for 24, 25," Knowlton said.

Knowlton highlighted reclassification progress: 127 students were reclassified last year, the highest number since COVID, and several campuses showed marked gains (Wilson Early College reclassified 61% of its smaller cohort). She also identified campuses with limited reclassification rates — Adams, Port Acres and Terrell — and recommended increased coaching and monitoring for those sites.

On accountability, Knowlton said internal analysis and the regional education service projection indicate the district is expected to remain at TEA Results Driven Accountability (RDA) determination level 2 for bilingual/ESL programs for a second consecutive year, which she described as a sign of program health while noting specific assessment areas to monitor.

Knowlton reviewed compliance and staffing approaches: every campus operates an LPAC (Language Proficiency Assessment Committee) to handle identification, placement and reclassification in accordance with board policy and state guidance; the district conducted more than 40 professional-development sessions from July 2024 to August 2025 and has a "future teach bilingual teacher" pipeline for international professionals in Port Arthur.

She also reported a decline in required staffing exceptions: the district filed 28 bilingual exceptions and 4 ESL waivers for the prior filing year (32 total) and plans to file 20 bilingual exceptions and 2 ESL waivers for 2025–26 (22 total). "That decrease is a significant improvement," Knowlton said, adding that the district will continue recruiting and supporting teachers pursuing bilingual certification and dedicating at least 10% of the bilingual education allotment toward that effort.

Knowlton closed by urging continued cross-division collaboration to sustain progress for emergent bilingual and migrant students. Board members thanked her and asked questions about campus-level demographics and performance, noting Sam Houston Elementary’s strong ratings and extracurricular programming.

What happens next: Knowlton said the bilingual exceptions and ESL waiver filings will be submitted on or before the November 1 deadline; the board did not take a formal vote on the evaluation itself during the meeting.