Bilingual and English as a Second Language Education Programs

The Emergent Bilingual Support Division provides direction and leadership with the implementation of Bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) Programs for emergent bilingual (EB) students/English learners (ELs).

Announcements

Check out the Emergent Bilingual Student Web Portal, TXEL.ORG, for continuously updated resources for Teachers, Leaders, Parents, families of Emergent Bilingual Students, and Community Partners. 

Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC) Guidance and Resources

Current School Year 

• LPAC Framework Training and Resources 
• LPAC Guidance: Beginning-of-Year (BOY) Guidance
• LPAC Guidance: Middle-of-Year (MOY) Guidance
• LPAC Guidance: End-of-Year (EOY) Guidance 
• Emergent Bilingual Student Reclassification Criteria Chart (English and Spanish) Updated February 2025
• Emergent Bilingual Student Summer School Guidance

2024-2025 Emergent Bilingual Support Update Meetings with LEAs and ESCs

The TEA Emergent Bilingual Support Division welcomes Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and regional Education Service Centers (ESCs) to join our Emergent Bilingual Support Division Meetings. See our EB TXEL Portal for dates, meeting links, presentations, and recordings.

Program Requirement Resources  

These resources, tools, and web pages provide guidance on bilingual and English as a second language (ESL) program requirements:

• NEW FAQ - HUB (Published September 2024)
• Bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) Programs Implementation Tools 
• Guidance on Identification and Placement of English Learners Prior to Kindergarten (Updated November 2021)
• Funding Guidebook (November 2024) 
• LPAC Guidance for Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Emergent Bilingual Students 
• NEW Bilingual Education Certification Pathways 
• TSDS PEIMS Descriptor Table Guide for Bilingual and ESL Programs
• EB Student/EL Decision Chart for the LPAC with PEIMS codes (Updated November 2023)
• NEW Integrating Bilingual/ESL Teachers in a Local Designation System 

Program Requirement Resource Web Pages  

• Framework Manual for the Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC) Process (outside source) 
• Guidance Related to ARD Committee and LPAC Collaboration 
• NEW Bilingual Education Exception and ESL Waiver Resources   
• Single, Statewide Assessments for Emergent Bilingual Students
  • Identification: Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) LAS Links Battery of Assessments (Texas-dedicated site)
  • Reclassification (Academic Achievement Component - Grades 1, 2, 11, and 12): Riverside Insights, Iowa Assessments, Form F (Texas-dedicated site)

Program Implementation

The TEA Emergent Bilingual Support Division has developed program implementation supports that can be accessed on the TXEL Program Implementation page. These tools are to support LEAs with evaluating and enhancing their bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. 

• Texas Effective Dual Language Immersion Framework (TxEDLIF)
• Texas English as a Second Language Framework (TxESLF)
• Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) Rubric & Associated Tools

Program Statutes   

The following statutes relate to bilingual and English as a second language (ESL) programs:  

• Texas Education Code (TEC) §29.051 -29.064 - Bilingual Education and ESL Programs

• Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 89. Adaptations for Special Populations Subchapter BB. Commissioner's Rules Concerning State Plan for Educating Emergent Bilingual Students

Title III, Part A — English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act

Title III, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as reauthorized under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), aims to ensure that English learners (ELs) and immigrant students attain English proficiency and develop high levels of academic achievement in English. Title III will also assist all English learners meet the same challenging State academic standards that all children are expected to meet. (ESSA, Section 3102)