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Title III-funded local educational agencies (LEAs) have a responsibility to provide equitable Title III, Part A services to private non-profit (PNP) schools' eligible English learners (ELs) with the primary goals of ensuring all students gain English proficiency and master challenging standards in core academic subjects. 

In addition, LEAs must follow a process to plan, design, implement, and evaluate their program and services.

What is English Language Proficiency?

19 TAC §74.4(a). English Language Proficiency Standards, states that “In order for English learners (ELs) to be successful, they must acquire both social and academic language proficiency in English. Social language proficiency in English consists of the English needed for daily social interactions. Academic language proficiency consists of the English needed to think critically, understand and learn new concepts, process complex academic material, and interact and communicate in English academic settings.” 

19 TAC §74.4(d) provides proficiency level descriptors that may be used to determine advanced ability in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English.

19 TAC, Chapter 74. Curriculum Requirements Subchapter A. Required Curriculum

English learners (ELs)—Students whose primary language is not English and who are in the process of acquiring the English language. When referencing statute, the term "limited English proficient (LEP)" is used in this course. At times, the terms EL and LEP are used interchangeably.

English Language Proficiency—The ability of students to listen, speak, read, and write at a level that allows them to complete grade-level classwork in English.

Local Educational Agency (LEA)—A public school district or open-enrollment charter school. Unlike public school districts, open-enrollment charter schools are not required to provide equitable services to PNP schools.

Private Non-Profit (PNP)—Defined by law as a "non-profit institutional day or residential school(s)" that provides elementary and secondary education and may include religiously affiliated schools. Open-enrollment charter schools are not required to provide equitable services to PNP schools.

Section 3102 defines the intent and purpose of the Title III, Part A English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act in the following five subsections.

Section 3102. Purposes

(1) to help ensure that English learners, including immigrant children and youth, attain English proficiency and develop high levels of academic achievement in English;

(2) to assist all English  learners, including immigrant children and youth, to achieve at high levels in academic subjects so that all English learners can meet the same challenging State academic standards that all children are expected to meet;

(3) to assist teachers (including preschool teachers), principals and other school leaders, State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and schools in establishing, implementing, and sustaining effective language instruction educational programs designed to assist in teaching English learners, including immigrant children and youth;

(4) to assist teachers (including preschool teachers), principals and other school leaders, State educational agencies, and local educational agencies to develop and enhance their capacity to provide effective instructional programs designed to prepare English learners, including immigrant children and youth, to enter all-English instructional settings; and

(5) to promote parental, family, and community participation in language instruction educational programs for the parents, families, and communities of English learners.

In order for eligible ELs to receive Title III, Part A services offered by the LEA, the PNP school must provide documentation of its non-profit status and be located within the LEA's attendance boundary.