TELPAS

February 16 - March 6, 2026

Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System

Emergent Bilinguals

(English Learners)

Equal Educational Opportunity

To ensure equal educational opportunity, as required in the Texas Education Code, policy states a school district shall:

(1) identify Emergent Bilinguals (English learners) based on criteria established by the state;

(2) provide Language programs (bilingual and ESL), as integral parts of the general education program;

(3) seek appropriately certified teaching personnel to ensure that Emergent Bilinguals are afforded full opportunity to master the essential knowledge and skills required by the state; and

(4) assess achievement for essential knowledge and skills to ensure accountability for Emergent Bilinguals and the schools that serve them.

Terminology

Emergent Bilingual (EB)

A student who is in the process of acquiring English and has another language as the student’s primary language or home language; synonymous with English language learner.

Reclassification

The process by which the language proficiency assessment committee (LPAC) determines that an English learner has met the appropriate criteria to be classified as English proficient.

English Proficient

A student who has met reclassification criteria and is no longer identified as an Emergent Bilingual. Also means a student who has never been identified as an Emergent Bilingual.

Exit

The point at which an Emergent Bilingual has met reclassification criteria and no longer requires a second language program services; student exits with parent or guardian approval.

Identification as Emergent Bilingual

Within four calendar weeks of initial enrollment in a Texas public school the district must:

Administer the identification assessment if the student’s home language survey** indicates a language other than English.
Language committee convenes to determine Emergent Bilingual classification and recommend the appropriate program placement.
Parents must be notified of a language program recommendation.
Parents approve or deny program recommendations.

**The state of Texas requires that a home language survey be completed for each student who enrolls in a Texas public school for the first time.

TELPAS Participation

Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS):

Fulfill federal requirements for annually assessing English language proficiency of Emergent Bilinguals
Assess language proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing
All Emergent Bilinguals are assessed, regardless of whether parents or guardians have denied language program services.

Reclassification as English Proficient

For exit from a bilingual education or ESL program, a student may be classified as English proficient only at the end of the school year in which a student would be able to participate equally in a general education, all-English instructional program. This determination shall be based upon all of the following:

a proficiency rating of “Advanced High” on the state-approved English language proficiency test TELPAS in each of the four language domains (listening, speaking, reading, and writing);
passing standard met on the STAAR-EOC reading assessment (Grade 9 EOC 1/ grade 10 EOC 2), or, for students at grade levels not assessed by the aforementioned reading assessment, a score at or above the 40th percentile on both the English reading and the English language arts sections of a state-approved norm-referenced standardized achievement instrument; and
the results of a subjective teacher evaluation using the state's standardized rubric.

For more information, contact TELPAS Coordinator, Oswaldo Rios at orios1@kleinisd.net.

Klein Oak School Code: 446691

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