Spanish Language Support

1. What are the grades 7 and 8 English Learners Language Arts (ELLA) courses?
The grades 7 and 8 ELLA (TAC §128.22 and TAC §128.23) are two TEKS based courses that became available to districts and charter schools beginning in the 2019-2020 school year. These courses address all of the Chapter 110 English Language Arts and Reading TEKS for grades 7 and 8 and have additional student expectations to support second language acquisition.

2. What are the PEIMS numbers for ELLA?
The TSDS PEIMS service id for grade 7 ELLA is 03200531.  
The TSDS PEIMS service id for grade 8 ELLA is 03200532. 

3. Are the ELLA courses required?
No. The grades 7 and 8 ELLA courses are options for school districts and charter schools with emergent bilingual (EB) students.

4. Does a student who takes the one of ELLA courses have to take the corresponding grade level STAAR Reading assessments?
Yes. A student must take the corresponding STAAR assessments. Being enrolled in ELLA does not prevent a student from participating in the STAAR program.

5. Where can I find certification information about teaching assignments for ELLA?
For ELLA, please check the Texas Administrative Code, §231.47.

1. What are the English for Speakers of Other Languages I and II (ESOL I and II) courses?
 ESOL I and ESOL II (TAC §128.34 and TAC §128.35) are TEKS based high school courses for students who are at the beginning or intermediate level of English language proficiency. These courses address all of the TEKS for English I and English II and have additional student expectations to support second language acquisition.

2. What are the PEIMS numbers for ESOL I-II?
The TSDS PEIMS service id for ESOL I is 03200600.  
The TSDS PEIMS service id for ESOL II is 03200700. 

3. Are the ESOL I and II courses required?
No. The ESOL I and ESOL II courses are options for school districts and charter schools with EB students.

4. Does a student who successfully completes ESOL I and/or ESOL II receive credit toward high school graduation?
Students who are at the beginning or intermediate level of English language proficiency may satisfy the English I and English II at graduation requirements by successfully completing ESOL I and II respectively. (TAC §74.12(b)(1)) Please note that all STAAR assessment requirements still apply. 

5. Does a student who takes ESOL I or II have to take the corresponding grade level STAAR assessment?
Yes. A student who completes ESOL I or II must take the corresponding STAAR reading language arts assessment. Being enrolled in ESOL does not exempt a student from participating in the STAAR program.

6. Is an emergent bilingual (EB) student who enrolls in ESOL I required to perform satisfactorily on the STAAR English I assessment in order to graduate? 
No. Although an EB student who is enrolled in ESOL I is required to take the corresponding STAAR English I assessment, in accordance with TAC §101.1007 an eligible EB student can use the English I End-of-Course Assessment Special Provision and meet the STAAR graduation requirements even if they did not meet the passing standard on the English I assessment. For more information on the special provision, please see the Commissioner’s Rules Concerning the Participation of English Language.

7. Is enrollment in ESOL I a requirement to qualify for the English I End-of-Course Assessment Special Provision?
Not necessarily. An EL student enrolled in either an English I or ESOL I course could potentially qualify (TAC §101.1007). For more information on the special provision, please see the Commissioner’s Rules Concerning the Participation of English Language.

8. Is an EL student enrolled in ESOL II required to pass the STAAR English II End-of-Course Assessment if the student used the English I End-of-Course Assessment Special Provision?
Yes. The special provision only applies to the English I assessment and therefore an EB student must still pass the English II assessment in order to meet the state assessment graduation requirement. For more information about special provision, see page 8 of the 2023-2024 LPAC Decisions Educator Guide. Please note that some students may be eligible for graduation via a determination by an individual graduation committee (IGC). For more information on IGCs, please see the Individual Graduation Committees Frequently Asked Questions.

9. Where can I find certification information about teaching assignments for ESOL?
For ESOL, please check the Texas Administrative Code, §231.123.

1. What is the English Language Development and Acquisition (ELDA) course?
The English Language Development and Acquisition course (TAC §128.36) is a new high school TEKS based course that became available to districts and charter schools beginning in the 2020-2021 school year. ELDA was designed to provide instructional opportunities for recent immigrant students with little or no English proficiency.

2.    What are the PEIMS numbers for ELDA?
The TSDS PEIMS service id number the first time that the ELDA course is taken is 03200800. If ELDA is taken a second time, the TSDS PEIMS service id number is 03200810. 

3. Is ELDA a required course in high school?
No. ELDA is an option for school districts and charter schools with EB students that are recent immigrants with little or no English proficiency.

4. Do students earn credit toward graduation if they successfully complete ELDA?
Yes. ELDA will satisfy state elective credit requirements for graduation. A student may earn a maximum of two credits if the course is taken concurrently with two different language arts and reading courses.

5. Can ELDA be offered in earlier grades?
Yes. According to TAC §74.26(b), school districts and charter schools may offer grades 9-12 courses at earlier grade levels. If a student successfully completes the ELDA course prior to high school, districts and charter schools are required to award credit and include it in the student’s transcript.

6. What are the requirements for ELDA?
ELDA must be taken concurrently with a corequisite language arts and reading course from Chapters 128 or 110. The recommended corequisites are ESOL I and ESOL II, though ELDA may be paired with other state-approved English or Spanish language arts and reading courses as appropriate.

7. What instructional resources are available for ELLA and ELDA courses?
No ELLA or ELDA instructional materials were adopted by the State Board of Education through Proclamation 2019 or Proclamation 2020, so currently those materials are not available on the adopted list. Districts should choose materials that best meet their expectations and the needs of their students.

8. Where can I find certification information about teaching assignments for ELDA?
For ELDA, please check the Texas Administrative Code, §231.125.

• Each year, during the week that includes September 17, Texas schools honor Celebrate Freedom Week (TEC § 29.907) to highlight the values and ideals on which the United States was founded as well as the sacrifices that were made for freedom in the founding of the country. Students learn about the intent, meaning, and importance of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.  Students also examine the relationship between the ideas in these documents and subsequent American history.

• Celebrate Freedom Week web page

• Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans who trace their heritage to Latin America or Spain. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. The following websites provide instructional materials, activities, and lessons that can be used to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and to support instruction in Ethnic Studies: Mexican American Studies.
• Hispanic Heritage Month web page

• Each year, during February, we celebrate the history and cultural contributions of African Americans in the United States. Students learn about the achievements, perspectives, struggles, and experiences of African Americans throughout more than 400 years of American history. The following websites provide a variety of lessons, activities, and instructional materials that can be used to honor African American History Month and to support instruction in Ethnic Studies: African American Studies and other social studies courses throughout the year. 
• Black History Month web page

• SB 1828 was passed in 2019 in acknowledgment of the Holocaust’s ongoing significance. SB 1828 instructs the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC) to develop or approve materials for public schools for a statewide Holocaust Remembrance Week. Counseled by the Commission, the Governor’s Office selected the week of January 27th as the date for Remembrance Week. (International Holocaust Remembrance Day is January 27, which is the date that Auschwitz was “liberated” by Allied troops.)
• Holocaust Remembrance Week web page