During a recent school board meeting, the Del Valle Independent School District (DVISD) provided a comprehensive update on its 2024-2025 Multilingual Program, focusing on the bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) initiatives aimed at supporting emergent bilingual students. Dr. Maggie de la Rosa and Dr. Dinora Bores presented the annual update, which is mandated by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to assess the district's bilingual and ESL programs.

The district currently serves 5,934 emergent bilingual students, reflecting significant growth over the past three years. The presentation highlighted the various bilingual education models in place, including one-way and two-way programs, as well as ESL content-based instruction. The data revealed that the district has seen an increase in linguistic diversity, with 37 languages spoken among students this year, up from 28 last year.

Reclassification of students based on language proficiency was also discussed, with a notable increase in reclassified students from 17 in 2023 to 136 in 2024. However, the criteria for reclassification are expected to change, with new guidelines yet to be released by TEA.

The meeting also addressed the challenges of staffing bilingual and ESL programs. Currently, DVISD has 52 waivers for teachers who are not certified in ESL, and the district is actively working to reduce this number through an ESL Academy designed to support teachers in obtaining their certifications. The academy has seen participation from 18 teachers, with additional sessions planned.

In response to questions from board members, it was clarified that bilingual and ESL certifications are distinct, with specific requirements for each. The district is also focusing on recruitment efforts, including partnerships with local universities and international teacher programs, to ensure a steady pipeline of qualified educators.

The board expressed satisfaction with the ongoing outreach efforts to engage parents and the community, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in supporting emergent bilingual students. The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue monitoring and enhancing the district's multilingual programs to meet the needs of its diverse student population.