School districts in Texas are required by state law to assess the English language proficiency of all students whose Home Language Survey indicates that the home language is a language other than English.
If a child demonstrates limited English proficiency on the assessment, s/he will be eligible for enrollment in the appropriate language program: Bilingual education or English as a Second Language (ESL).
The goal of both programs is to enable English language learners to become competent in the reading, listening, speaking, and writing of the English language through the development of literacy and academic skills in grade-level content areas.
The following websites provide guidance from TEA related to English language learners:
TEA: Bilingual and English as a Second Language Educational Programs
The goal of Bilingual education programs is to enable English language learners in grades PK-5 to become competent in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in the English language through the development of literacy and academic skills in the primary language and English.
Bilingual education is a full-time instructional program that utilizes the student’s native Spanish language as a foundation for teaching the academic content outlined in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Student eligibility for the program is determined through the administration of Spanish and English language proficiency tests, and parent permission is required for entrance into the program. Bilingual education affords students of limited English proficiency an equal opportunity to master grade-level TEKS using their native Spanish language while attaining proficiency in English. The amount of English used increases as the student acquires academic English proficiency, and the content area instruction is reinforced with the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS).
Dual language immersion is an educational approach in which students learn two languages in an instructional setting that integrates subject content presented in English and another language.
Stephenville ISD currently only offers a one-way dual language program model to English language learners in grades PK-6. Students are identified according to state policy through the Home Language Survey and language proficiency assessments approved by TEA.