Limited English Proficient (LEP) Student Success Initiative provides intensive programs of instruction for students with limited English proficiency. It also provides training materials and other resources to assist teachers in developing the expertise required to enable students of LEP to meet state performance standards.
Snapshot of ELLs in Texas:
Definition of an English Language Learner (ELL)
- "Student of limited English proficiency" means a student whose primary language is other than English and whose English language skills are such that the student has difficulty performing ordinary classwork in English.
- The terms LEP and English language learners (ELLs) are used interchangeably. TEC, 29.052
ELLs Special Language Programs in Texas (PEIMS Spring 2010)
| ELLs | | 817,165 |
| Bilingual Program | | 456,051 |
| English as a Second Language | | 310,812 |
Texas ELL Population (PEIMS Spring 2010)
- Over 120 languages represented in Texas schools
- Over 91% Spanish speakers-744,949
- Prominent languages other than Spanish:
- 15,493 Vietnamese (1.90%)
- 4,791 Arabic (0.59%)
- 3,985 Urdu (0.49%)
- 2,906 Korean (0>.36%)
- ELLs represent about 17% of the total students
Programs:
Other Resources for ELLs:
Student Performance Highlights:
ELLs TAKS performance have narrowed significantly in many grades and subjects as compared in 2003 and 2010:
- 5th grade TAKS science test in English had a passing rate of 10% as compared to 72% in 2010, which is a 62% passing rate
- 7th grade TAKS writing test had a passing rate of 26% as compared to 80% in 2010, which is a 54% gain in passing rate
- 10th grade TAKS English Language Arts had a passing rate of 15% as compared to 50% in 2010, which is a 36% gain in passing rate
Teacher Preparation Highlights:
- In 2009-2010 Texas created an all-level certificate for bilingual teachers so that high schools who needed bilingual educators could have highly qualified bilingual teachers in high school rather than just elementary and middle school
- In the summer of 2010, over 14,000 teachers attended the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) Academies
LEP SSI is administered by the Division of School Readiness and Partnerships in the Department of State Initiatives.
Contacts:
Department of State Initiatives: 512.936.6060
Deputy Associate Commissioner, Division of School Readiness and Partnerships: Gina S. Day
Program Manager: Roberto Manzo