Dual Language & SPED

Dual Language Immersion Two Way
A bilingual/biliteracy program model in which students identified as emergent bilingual students are integrated with students proficient in English and are served in both English and another language and are prepared to meet reclassification criteria in order to be successful in English-only instruction not earlier than six or later than seven years after the student enrolls in school.

Emerson Elementary offers a dual-language immersion program at each grade level.  HISD's dual-language immersion program helps students to become fluent in both English and Spanish. Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Program (TWBIP). In TWBIP classrooms, a combination of native Spanish speakers and native English speakers are taught together in an effort to develop full bilingualism and biliteracy for both groups of students. 

• Contact the Multilingual Dept. (713-556-6961) for more information concerning this program option. more information

 

The Special Education programs available at Emerson Elementary School campus consist of a PPCD or Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities class; a Kindergarten Co-Teach class; Resource; Content Mastery and Inclusion Classes. Assistive Technology and Related Services are also provided when a need is identified.

Inclusion

This is a Special Education model whereby all the special ed. students are in the regular education classrooms.  A special ed. teacher or aide goes into the regular classroom to assist students with class work for part of the regular school day.   By law, students should be in the Least Restrictive Classroom setting which is the general ed. class when the disability allows.  Thereafter, they may be moved into a more restrictive setting only if they are not successful in the general ed. classroom with IEP, modifications and direct assistance. Content Mastery is when a special education student is pulled out of regular ed. classroom for additional assistance with re-teaching or reviewing of a previously taught objective.

Co-Teaching

This is when a special education teacher and a regular education teacher teach both regular and special education students together in one class room.  Both teachers equally share responsibility and accountability for all the students in the co-teaching classroom.

 

Referral Process

Teachers should get to know their students before a referral is made.  There must also be documentation of sustained research based interventions that was used prior to the referral.  After the referral is made, the IAT/Referral Committee will decide whether to test or not to test.  A special education label is very serious and once given is very difficult to remove.  Therefore, everyone involved should be cautious.  When a student is tested and is qualified, the ARD committee will meet to decide the best plan of action.

ARD Process

An ARD/IEP committee is usually made up of parents, regular and special ed. teachers, evaluation personnel an administrator and or other professionals (when appropriate).  They meet to discuss how best to meet a student’s individual educational needs.  The teachers will provide information about classroom progress and conduct.  During the course of the meeting, an Individual Educational Plan and modifications will be developed for the student if necessary.  The committee meets every year to discuss progress or lack of progress.

Modifications and IEP

Modifications are allowances and/or accommodations that are given to special ed. students to help them succeed in the classroom.  It varies from student to student depending on their particular situation.  The ARD committee determines the modification needed per subject for each student in the classroom as well as on the TAKS-M, TAKS-Accommodated, or TAKS examinations (on grade level).  However, TAKS modification must also be one that the student is already receiving regularly in the classroom. IEPis the Individual Education Plan that is developed for students in the academic area that they qualify in.

Curriculum and Instruction

• The Texas State Plan for The Education of Gifted/Talented Students mandates that districts meet the needs of gifted/talented students by modifying the depth, complexity, and pacing of the curriculum and instruction ordinarily provided by the school.
• In grades K-12, all G/T students shall receive instruction daily by a G/T trained teacher implementing differentiation through acceleration, adding depth and complexity, higher level thinking skills and developing independent research skills in the four (4) foundation curricular areas (English Language Arts/Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies), emphasizing advanced level products.

If your student is Entering Kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year and applying for enrollment at a Vanguard Magnet campus, testing can be requested in the fall. Additionally, if your student is currently in grades K-12 and seeking Gifted and Talented identification or attending a school that mandates it for admission, testing may also be requested each fall.

The Gifted and Talented Department in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) has the primary responsibility of overseeing, supporting, and monitoring the programs for K-12 identified gifted and talented (G/T) students district-wide.

The Houston Independent School District provides two program options for Gifted and Talented (G/T) students: 

• Gifted and Talented Neighborhood Programs are designed to meet the needs of G/T students in grades K-12 at their neighborhood (zoned) schools.
• Vanguard Magnet Programs are designed to meet the needs of G/T students in grades K-12 at their Vanguard Magnet school.

The Gifted and Talented Programs are designed for G/T students who excel in general intellectual ability, in combination with creative/productive thinking and/or leadership ability. Both Vanguard Magnet Programs and Gifted and Talented Neighborhood Programs provide a differentiated curriculum by modifying the depth, complexity, and pacing of the general school program.

Gifted and Talented Testing

Are you interested in G/T Testing? 

G/T Testing Request link available by August 8th.  Complete the interest form below to receive link to register for testing by August 25th.

https://bit.ly/GT-Interest