A Microsoft Word version of this letter is available for download and PRINTING.

April 20, 2010

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

SUBJECT:  2010 Summer School Program for Limited English Proficient (LEP) Students in Kindergarten and First Grade

Attached is a copy of 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Section 89.1250, Required Summer School Programs, which requires districts to provide a summer school program for limited English proficient (LEP) students who will be eligible for admission to kindergarten and first grade at the beginning of the next school year. This letter is to inform school districts that funds have been appropriated for the 2009-2010 school year to reimburse school districts for operating a summer school program.

This information is provided to help districts prepare and coordinate building services, transportation, calendars and instruction with other state and federal programs. Districts required to offer a bilingual education or special language program during the 2009-2010 school year, including those with approved exceptions, must offer the summer school program. Reimbursement for costs of enrolling students of limited English proficiency will be processed in the fall of 2010 through the Division of Formula Funding.

Districts operating a two-semester system shall offer the program for one-half day for eight weeks while school is recessed for the summer or a total of 120 hours of instruction on a schedule established by the board of trustees. Districts operating year-round schools shall offer a program during intersessions for a total of 120 hours of instruction.

For students who have not attended school previously and need to be identified as Limited English Proficient (LEP), 19 TAC Section 89.1225 rules are to be followed. The List of Approved Tests for Assessment of Limited English Proficient Students is required for the identification process and can be found at the following URL: http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/curriculum/biling/RevisedListofApprovedTests0910.pdf.

Funding for the program will be on a teaching unit basis with 18 students or a fraction thereof constituting a unit. Since the appropriation for this program is a fixed amount, it will be necessary to prorate unit allotments if enrollment exceeds projections. Based on 2009 program costs, it is suggested that districts plan for reimbursement of no more than $1,026 per unit. Business managers should be informed that the fund code is 289 and that payment to the district will be provided through direct deposit.

Please note that data will be collected through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) for summer school 2010. All participating districts are required to submit actual costs of students and these data are subject to audit by the School Financial Audit Division. “THE-BILINGUAL/ESL-SUMMER-SCHOOL-INDICATOR-CODE” is included in the 101 Student Demographic Record of the 2009-2010 PEIMS Data Standards to identify students participating in the Bilingual/ESL Summer School Program. This indicator code is collected in Submission 4 only, and the due date to TEA is September 9, 2010.

If you have any program questions, please contact Susie Coultress, Director, Bilingual and English as a Second Language Programs, at (512) 463-9581. If you have PEIMS questions, please contact (512) 463-9117. If you have funding questions, please contact Formula Funding at (512) 463-8525.

Sincerely,

Anita Givens
Associate Commissioner
Standards and Programs

19 TAC §89.1250, Required Summer School Programs, and 19 TAC §89.1265, Evaluation attachment