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Mesquite ISD reports strong bilingual outcomes, flags targeted support needs for ESL students
Summary
Director Carolina Portillo presented the annual bilingual and ESL program evaluation to trustees, showing strong bilingual student performance across grades and identifying areas for targeted support for ESL students, with reclassification numbers rising at elementary and middle school levels.
Carolina Portillo, director of bilingual and ESL services, presented the district's annual program evaluation required by the Texas Education Agency and highlighted strong language-acquisition and academic outcomes for students in bilingual instruction.
Portillo said bilingual English test takers outperformed other groups across reading and math in multiple grades and presented reclassification data showing growth from early elementary through middle school. She also noted areas for additional focus: ESL students showed lower proficiency in certain grades and subjects (Portillo cited declines in 7th grade math and called for targeted interventions). "This slide demonstrates a powerful set of data," Portillo said, summarizing that monitor students who have exited the bilingual program continue to score highly across grade-level assessments.
Portillo and trustees discussed certification pathways for non-certified teachers and program staffing challenges, including the use of bilingual exceptions and ESL waivers to serve students while the district continues recruiting and developing certified teachers.
