Each month, the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees schedules the Board Briefing on the second Thursday, starting at 11:30. We discussed the Multi-Language Enrichment Program. The highlights are listed below. Elizabeth Casas is the Executive Director. You may contact her at (972) 749-2300 if you have any questions about the program.
The purpose of the M-LEP Department is to provide instructional support for English Language Learners (ELL) from early childhood to graduation.
The goal is to build a strong instructional program for all ELL students while providing the structures and resources to support the campuses for successful implementation to prepare students to be college and workforce ready.
The programs include:
- Early Childhood: AVANCE and HIPPY
- Elementary: One-way and Two-way Dual Language, Transitional Bilingual, ESL and Newcomer
- Secondary: English Language Institute (ELI), ESL, Shelter
- Margaret and Gilbert Herrera Student Intake Center
One-way Dual Language
Status:
- Pre-K through grade four at 143 campuses
- Anticipate continued academic success at fourth grade
Updates
- Continue Dual Language at Pre-K through grade four at 143 campuses
- 2010-2011 – Partially implement fifth grade at select campuses
- Collaboration with Core Content to support ELL students at non-Dual Language campuses
Challenges:
- Number of Bilingual certified teachers to teach grade five for full implementation
Two-way Dual Language
Status
- Serve Spanish speaking ELL students and native English speakers
- Twenty campuses
Updates
- Two-way PLC meets every six weeks
- Administrator meeting April 1, 2010
- Planning session with Gomez and Gomez
Challenges
- Staffing due to student mobility
Middle School & High School Dual Language
Status
- Goal to graduate students Bilingual and Bi-literate
- Reviewing and visiting other districts with secondary Dual Language programs
- Implementation Plan
Updates
- Secondary Dual Language Committee
- Collaborate with Enrichment department
Challenges
- Secondary Bilingual certified teachers in core content
Margaret and Gilbert Herrera Intake Center (972) 749-5760
Status
- Facilitate document collection and enrollment for students who are new to the country (Refugee/Immigrant)
Updates
- Parent Orientation and Workshops
- Partnerships with Adult Basic Education, Homeless Education Program, College Readiness and Community Refugee Organizations
- T-CALL, intense language instruction
Challenges
- Refugee mobility negatively impacting secondary campus
- Possible 700 Haiti refugees in April through Catholic Charities
M-LEP + Core Academic Content
Status
- M-LEP and Core Academic Content collaboration
- M-LEP, Special Education and Gifted and Talented will work with Core to embed strategies for all students
Initiatives
- Cross training between departments
- Embed strategies and interventions within CPGs
- Professional Development mandatory hours combined with Core, no longer separate
- Unite and align all coaches to better serve campuses
