Events

Though Texas has tens of thousands of emergent bilingual students with disabilities, the state has not had a teacher certification program that equips professionals to meet the needs of those students. Until now. The Texas Legislature in 2021 passed HB 2256 to create such a program. HB 2256 came out of a year-long initiative, the Texas Early Childhood English Learner Initiative*.

The State Board for Educator Certification must now develop the rules and standards and is asking for input from experts like you. IDRA is holding a series of roundtable discussions to convene professionals in bilingual special education to assist. We will compile recommendations to submit at the February 11 State Board of Education meeting.

This is an invitation-only event. But you are welcome to extend the invitation to your colleagues!

We also invite you to share your thoughts in our questionnaire whether or not you are able to participate in a roundtable.

Learn more:

• Exciting Advances for Emergent Bilingual Students in Texas, by Araceli García, IDRA Newsletter, June-July 2021
• HB 2256 Improves Bilingual and Special Education Service Identification for Students – IDRA Testimony for House Bill 2256, Presented by Dr. Chloe Latham Sikes to the House Public Education Committee, April 6, 2021

*For the Texas Early Childhood English Learner Initiative, IDRA served as a steering committee co-leader with Texans Care for Children; Philanthropy Advocates (formerly called Texas Education Grantmakers Advocacy Consortium, TEGAC); Dr. Dina Castro, UNT Denton; and Texas Association for the Education of Young Children (TxAEYC).

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This event is brought to you by the IDRA EAC-South, the equity assistance center serving schools in the U.S. South to protect students’ civil rights.