Multilingual Services Department

Overview of Bilingual and ESL Programs

Aldine ISD currently serves over 20,000 English Language Learners (ELL) Pre-Kindergarten to 12^th grade.  Pre-Kindergarten, Elementary and Intermediate ELLs participate in two programs, the transitional Bilingual program and the English as a Second Language (ESL) program.  Pre-Kindergarten through sixth grade ELLs who speak a language other than Spanish and middle and high school ELLs receive specialized instruction through Aldine’s English as a second language (ESL) program.

Transitional Bilingual Program

Through the implementation of a Transitional Bilingual Program model, the Aldine Independent School District Bilingual and English as a Second Language program targets the academic, linguistic, and social needs of each student whose native language is not English. The students are provided the instructional support necessary to acquire the English language and to become academically successful in the mainstream classroom.  Spanish is used by Bilingual certified staff to deliver academic content so that literacy in the native language is attained.  Linguistic support is given to students whose first language is Vietnamese in their native language by ESL certified teachers.  Instruction in Bilingual/ESL classrooms is based on the content area Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and district developed ESL curriculum guidelines.  Teachers follow a district Pacing Chart to increase the amount of English instruction each year as commensurate with the students’ level of English proficiency.  Assessment data and level of student English proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing are used to meet the educational needs of each English Language Learner so that the transition to an all English academic environment is successful.

English as a Second Language Program

In the ESL program, Pre-Kindergarten through sixth grade students who speak a language other than Spanish and middle and high school ELLs receive specialized language instruction. They receive all English instruction with linguistic support from a certified ESL teacher.  Students receive rigorous and targeted instruction to ensure that they are able to access and acquire English literacy and content knowledge and skills. 

English Language Institute

The English Language Institute (ELI) curriculum prepares students to be successful in English as a Second Language (ESL) Level 1 or English 1 Speakers of Other Languages (SOL).  The course enrollment is limited to students who are in their first year in the United States.  With the approval of the Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC), students who have a strong foundation in their native language may be ready to advance to English 1 SOL in less than one school year with an additional support class.  The ELI language and ELI reading classes should serve only first year ELLs and must be taught by an ESL certified teacher.  Science and math are taught by teachers certified in the appropriate subject area.