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Educators can now search frequently asked questions all in one location to find the most up to date state and federal guidance.

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Timely FAQs

Identification

ESSA requires assurances that students are identified as EB/EL (or English Proficient, as appropriate) within 30 calendar days of enrollment [Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 Public Law 115-141, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)]. TEC 29.056 requires Texas school districts to identify English learners within four calendar weeks of enrollment, which also fulfills the federal requirement. For students enrolling in the summer prior to the beginning of the school year, the identification process starts on the first day of school. If the student undergoing the identification process is eligible, the LPAC must make their recommendations for program placement and the parental approval must be sent. Instructional linguistic accommodations may also be addressed at this time. It is suggested that the signed parental approval form be received by the district within this time frame, as written parent or guardian approval is required in order for Bilingual Education Allotment (BEA) funds to be generated.

Note: A calendar week is not adjusted for school days missed, holidays, school-wide testing, or any variance in start/end day. Identification of emergent bilingual student requires testing by the LPAC as well as the convening of a meeting to review the student’s documentation and determine if the student is eligible for classification as an emergent bilingual student.

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Best Practice Scenario

Masad:
Masad moved from California to Texas and his dad enrolled him at Liberty Elementary on Wednesday, August 14th. Mr. Quinteros, the school’s LPAC Coordinator, calculates that Masad must be identified and placed by September 11th. To calculate the four-week time frame according to Texas statute, Mr. Quinteros begins his four-week count on August 14th. August 21st marks the first week. August 28th marks the second week. September 4th indicates the third week. Finally, the fourth week, regardless of the Labor Day holiday, closes on September 11th. Mr. Quinteros begins preparation for the full identification process to ensure he finalizes the identification and placement of Masad in emergent bilingual services, should he qualify, by September 11th.

Time Table

Yes, LEAs are required to administer an HLS for each new student enrolling for the first time in a Texas public school in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The HLS administered at the time of enrollment will serve as the original and only HLS throughout the educational experience of the student in Texas public schools (TAC §89.1215(a)).

TEA has created an optional QR code page that can be included with any paper version of the required HLS to enable all parents to have access to the digital information.

LEAs are required to report the language other than English if multiple languages are indicated on question one or two of the HLS. LEAs must indicate the first language other than English if multiple languages are listed. LEAs are encouraged to contact the families to determine which language is most appropriate to enter into PEIMS.

If a language other than English is listed for questions 2 or 3, LEAs are guided to report the language other than English for the student language. Additional information can be found in the Data Element Reporting Requirements, DR 30 in the Student Extension complex type.