Carmen Pompa Director (956) 473-5242 capompa@unitedisd.org

Program Overview

Bilingual education in United I.S.D. is an educational approach that helps build knowledge and learning of academic subjects in the first language and English, while instilling self assurance, confidence and cultural pride in students, (TEA 2004).

This approach is supported by research and literature on bilingual education and second language acquisition. Studies indicate that literacy in the first language enhances literacy in the second language (Cummins, 1980).

The state of Texas requires that every student who is identified as limited English proficient (LEP) be afforded a full opportunity to participate in a Bilingual/ESL Program. Parental permission is required and parents may deny services.

However, the student will remain identified as limited English proficient until the student no longer qualifies for services and will be coded as a parent denial. Hence, bilingual students are those LEP students who are participating in the Bilingual/ESL program.

Department’s Mission

The United Independent School District’s Bilingual Department serves to provide Educational Excellence and Equity for all English Language Learners.

Dual Language Enrichment Model

In the 2002-2003 school year, UISD began implementing a federally funded dual language education program at select elementary schools. This project serves English Language Learners (ELLs) and English proficient students in kindergarten through eight grade.

Program Goals

The major goals of the Dual Language Enrichment Model are to ensure that:

• ELLs and English proficient students’ performances are similar to their grade level peers in both English and Spanish,
• High levels of communicative and literacy proficiency are achieved by the students in their first and second language, and that they develop positive attitudes toward the language, culture, and people of their native language and other groups, and
• Parents involve themselves in the education of their children and that the learning community becomes more aware of both effective strategies for teaching ELLs and the importance of being bilingual and biliterate in today’s society.

Program Implementation

Currently, all 26 elementary schools are implementing a strand of the Developing Unity and Achievement through Language (D.U.A.L.) program. The model proposes an approximate 50-50 balanced use of both English and Spanish through the academic year. Parents, teachers, and administrators involved with the program have seen favorable academic results.

Beginning in the 2007-2008 school year, the program was expanded to the three feeder middle schools: Antonio Gonzalez, United, and Washington Middle School.  Additionally, beginning the 2010-2011 school year, the program was expanded to Alexander High School, United High School and United South High School. They are implementing the program by providing students with certain courses that are taught in Spanish which include an advanced Spanish as a foreign language class and a Social Studies class. All other courses are taught in English.

The United ISD Developing Unity and Achievement through Language (D.U.A.L.) program is a language enrichment model that integrates ELLs and English speaking students to provide content area instruction and language development in the two languages. This model provides an additive bilingual environment where all students have the opportunity to learn a second language while continuing to develop their native language proficiency and to improve their mastery of the content areas. The dual language 50-50 model is based on national research findings that maximize the strengths of both English and Spanish speakers. In this model, identified students receive both Spanish and English instruction in Language Arts and Reading. Mathematics is instructed in English while Social Studies is taught in Spanish from Kinder to fifth grade. Science is taught in Spanish up to second grade. In grades third through fifth Science is taught in English to ensure that the expectations of state mandates are met at these grade levels. The ultimate goal of the model is for students to become proficient in both English and Spanish while developing a strong foundation in their native language.

Dual Language programs are a dynamic form of education that hold great promise for developing high levels of academic achievement, bilingualism and biliteracy, and cross-cultural awareness among participating students (Christian & Whitcher, 1995; Valdés, 1997).

If you would like more information or are interested in enrolling your child, please contact your campus administration.

Staff

Name	Position	Phone	Email
Carmen Pompa	Director	(956) 473-5242	capompa@unitedisd.org
Veronica Brown	Coordinator	(956) 473-2001	vabrown@uisd.net
Michelle A. Cantu	Coordinator	(956) 473-2002	michellec@uisd.net
Marissa Garza	Coordinator	(956) 473-2133	marissag@uisd.net
Yadira Martinez	ELL Coordinator	(956) 473-2134	ymartinez@uisd.net
Maria A. Dominguez	ELL Coordinator	(956) 473-2082	mdominguez@unitedisd.org
Rosie Garza	LPAC Specialist	(956) 473-2003	rosag@uisd.net
Hilda Knapp	Bilingual Clerk	(956) 473-2113	hknapp@uisd.net