TETN Follow-up:

• The 2019-2020 Middle of Year (MOY) LPAC Guidance Checklist has been posted on the TEA Bilingual/ESL Programs webpage in a fillable format.
• The English Learner Program Implementation webpage has been updated to include the Program Implementation Rubric and Scoring Tool for Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) programs in addition to the existing rubric and tools for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. Be sure to also check out the new Getting Started Guide and Stakeholder Checklists available on this webpage!
• The statewide assessment guest presentations from Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) and Riverside Insights are attached.
• DRC Presentation
• Riverside Insights Presentation

The TEA English Learner Support Division has partnered with the TEA Division of Special Education to create LPAC Guidance for Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) English Learners, along with an explanatory training video. These resources are currently posted on our TEA Bilingual/ESL Programs webpage.

Proposed Commissioner’s Rules Chapter 89 – Public Comment Period

The public comment period on the Proposed Chapter 89, Commissioner’s Rules Concerning State Plan for Educating English Learner is now open. The public comment period is from December 20-January 20.

The proposed revisions would update the rules to use more current terminology, provide clarifications, make technical edits, and remove outdated provisions.

https://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/Laws_and_Rules/Commissioner_Rules_(TAC)/Proposed_Commissioner_of_Education_Rules

What’s New? Side-By-Side Guidance Document

Side-By-Side  Guidance Document: Allowable vs. Unallowable Use of Funds to Support English Learners

This document provides guidance on allowable vs. unallowable use of Bilingual Education Allotment (state) and Title III, Part A (federal) funds. It serves as a tool for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to align with each program’s statutory authority, policies, and practices. This guidance document does not contain an exhaustive list of allowable/unallowable expenditures but it will be a living document and will be updated as required. This document is available on the Bilingual/ESL webpage under “ Program Requirement Resources”.

Start preparing your district Spanish Spelling Bee to send ONE student in grades 3-5 to represent your district in the Regional Spelling Bee hosted by Education Service Center Region 11.  Please see the invite below. More information coming soon!

Spanish Spelling Bee

A To the Administrator Addressed (TAA) Correspondence was posted on December 5^th to announce Riverside Insights as the sole provider for the single, statewide norm-referenced standardized achievement test for reclassification of English learners and to provide details on next steps for implementation. The Iowa Assessments, Form F fulfills the state standardized reading assessment component of the English Learner Reclassification Criteria for grades 1, 2, 11, and 12.

Explanatory charts have been developed to demonstrate the shift in identification (slide 3) and reclassification (slide 4) criteria for the 2019-2020 school year with the implementation of the Texas ESSA State Plan for Title III, Part A as Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §89.1226 on Testing and Classification of Students replaced §89.1225.

The TEA English Learner Support Division is pleased to release NEW program implementation resources for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) and English as a Second Language (ESL).

In addition to the recently updated program implementation rubrics and scoring tools, NEW stakeholder checklists for teachers, campus administrators, and district administrators have been added as well as a Getting Started Guide for how to utilize all of the resources for a comprehensive program self-evaluation.

Rubrics and associated resources provided for DLI and ESL programs are also being developed for Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) programs and will be coming soon!

 These resources are also great to evaluate your current program(s) and plan for program enhancements. Feel free to reach out for additional guidance. ~Melanie Yocom 

The TEA English Learner Support Division has updated the Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) for English Learners and the Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC) on our TEA Bilingual/ESL Program web page.

Take a look on the Table of Contents page to see each section of the FAQ document that has updated and/or new questions, indicated in red with the date of November 8, 2019.

The TEA English Learner Support Division has developed new resources on our Bilingual Education Exception and ESL Waiver Resources web page to assist in the exception and waiver process. These new resources include an FAQ and three explanatory videos:

• NEW FAQ! Frequently-Asked-Questions: Bilingual Education Exception and ESL Waiver 
• NEW Videos! 
• Application Explanation - 2019-2020 Bilingual Education Exception and ESL Waiver Application (Running time 27:46)
• Explanatory Video - Bilingual Education Exception Scenario Chain (Running time 14:00)
• Explanatory Video - English as a Second Language (ESL) Waiver Scenario Chain (Running time 13:36)

These are in addition to the following updated resources:

• Updated for 2019-2020: Bilingual Education Exception Scenario Chain 
• Updated for 2019-2020: English as a Second Language (ESL) Waiver Scenario Chain 
• Revised August 2019: Allowable Use of Bilingual Education Allotment (BEA) Funds Comprehensive Professional Development Plan

The TEA English Learner Support Division has launched the newly designed ELLTX.ORG web portal for supporting English learners in Texas. The portal now introduces resources for parents and families of English learners and a new strand focusing on building community partnerships.

The portal will provide a one stop shop approach for all stakeholders to access state and federal guidance and web-based resources to boost student outcomes. There is also a translation feature to toggle between the top languages in Texas.

2020 Title III Symposium

Marriott San Antonio Rivercenter

101 Bowie Street

July 23 – 24, 2020

Region 11 LEAs:

Please be aware that IF your district is filing a Bilingual Exception for a language other than Spanish, these students will be coded with a Parent Permission Code (K) and ESL Program Code (2) or (3) if services were accepted. Please see the October 20th TEA FAQ for Bilingual Exception and ESL Waiver.

https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/FAQ%20-%20BE%20Exception%20and%20ESL%20Waiver%20Updated%20Oct%2018%2C%202019.pdf

TOPIC: HB 3 in 30: Bilingual Education Allotment Video

The video is 17 minutes with 22 seconds long.

https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/government-relations-and-legal/government-relations/hb-3-30-video-series