Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Newsletter
Thank you for subscribing to the TEA LOTE newsletter.
This issue of the TEA LOTE newsletter includes the following:
- Updated LOTE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- LOTE Credit By Examination (CBE)
- Virtual LOTE Course Opportunities
- LOTE Timely Topic – Transfer Students
- Updated Innovative Course Application Timeline
Updated LOTE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
An updated FAQ document for LOTE curriculum and graduation requirements has been published on the TEA LOTE webpage.
Answers to many commonly asked questions related to LOTE are included in this document, including (but not limited to)–
- LOTE curriculum requirements;
- LOTE graduation requirements;
- LOTE substitutions; and
- LOTE questions for military students.
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Based on feedback from September’s LOTE newsletter survey, interest was expressed for further guidance regarding LOTE and credit by examination (CBE).
Credit by examination is one available method for districts and open-enrollment charters to award credit to meet the LOTE graduation requirement. The 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §74.24 provides guidance regarding who may develop CBEs and how to offer them. Two providers of CBEs approved in rule are The University of Texas at Austin and Texas Tech University. Other options regarding providing CBEs are listed in 19 TAC §74.24.
CBEs are offered by these providers for a variety of languages and are options for districts and open-enrollment charters that wish to award credit for languages not offered in their own district.
Additionally, a district or charter may develop their own CBEs. A school district must have the approval of the school district board of trustees to develop its own tests or to purchase examinations that thoroughly test the essential knowledge and skills in the applicable grade level or subject area.
Please note that high school districts and open-enrollment charters are required to offer CBEs for each primary school grade level and for credit for secondary school academic subjects required under Texas Education Code (TEC) §28.023.
For more information regarding CBEs, please refer to the TEA credit by examination webpage and questions 9-11 on the LOTE frequently asked questions (FAQs) document.
Need help meeting a student’s course needs?
- American Sign Language
- Chinese
- French
- German
- Latin
- Spanish
The Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN) can help meet students’ needs through TEA-approved online courses. The TXVSN statewide course catalog provides schools and students access to high school, Advanced Placement, career and technical education, and dual credit courses for initial credit or credit recovery.
The TXVSN courses are aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and taught by Texas-certified teachers trained in best practices in online instruction. Schools can use the TXVSN courses to create flexibility in a student’s schedule, allow a student to accelerate their learning, or address local teacher shortages. Students enrolled in a TXVSN course can generate funding regardless of whether the student is physically present at school while participating in the course.
For more information about the courses offered through the TXVSN, please visit the TXVSN website or contact the TXVSN Help Desk.
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LOTE Timely Topic – Transfer Students
To support Texas LOTE educators and stakeholders, each newsletter will highlight a commonly asked question. This edition’s question is –
“We have a student that transferred into our district with LOTE credit for a language that we do not offer. What can we do?”
There are many options available to districts and open-enrollment charters related to providing LOTE opportunities when a particular language is not included in a local course catalog. Some of the possible options include the following:
- Students may enroll in an online course through the Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN) catalog.
- Students may enroll in a college course and, with local approval, receive high school credit. LEAs must verify that all of the TEKS for a course are taught in such an arrangement.
- Students may take correspondence courses or distance learning courses through The University of Texas at Austin or Texas Tech University.
- Students may take a credit by examination.
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To benefit both innovative course applicants and LEAs who wish to implement innovative courses, the timeline for future innovative course application cycles has been updated. The updated timeline is designed to provide additional time for the following:
- Applicants to complete applications
- Applicants to receive local board approval
- Applicants to complete course pilots and analyze data
- Districts and open-enrollment charters to plan for innovative course implementation
Courses that are approved will be available for implementation beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
The updated innovative course application timeline has been posted on the TEA innovative courses webpage.
Thank you for your commitment to serving Texas students.
Wes Scholten
Enrichment Coordinator
Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division
Curriculum Help Desk
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