Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Newsletter

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This issue of the TEA LOTE newsletter includes the following:

• Timely Topic: Credit by Examination
• Division Highlight: Emergent Bilingual Support
• Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN) Course Offerings
• Innovative Course Application Window Now Open for the 2026–2027 Cycle

Timely Topic: Credit by Examination To support Texas LOTE educators and stakeholders, each newsletter will highlight a commonly asked question. This edition’s question is– “Where can districts and open-enrollment charters obtain credit by examination assessments (CBEs) in LOTE?” The University of Texas at Austin and Texas Tech University are authorized by the State Board of Education (SBOE) rule to provide CBEs. With local board approval, a district or open-enrollment charter may also purchase or develop examinations that thoroughly test all the essential knowledge and skills in the applicable course level for the purposes of credit by examination. Please refer to 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §74.24(a)(3) and (4) for details. For additional information, stakeholders may view the credit by examination webpage.

Division Highlight: Emergent Bilingual Support The Emergent Bilingual Support Division provides guidance, technical assistance, and leadership with the effective implementation of all state-approved bilingual and English as a second language (ESL) programs to serve emergent bilingual (EB) students. Educators, parents and families can find support for PK-12 on many topics, including program implementation resources, content-based language instruction (CBLI) methods, accountability and compliance, leadership connections, and professional development opportunities, through the Emergent Bilingual Support Division Portal. For questions related to EB students and families support, please email the Emergent Bilingual Support Division at EmergentBilingualSupport@tea.texas.gov or call (512) 463-9414.

Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN) Course Offerings Need help meeting a student’s course needs for the following languages? 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 languages other than English 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.

Innovative Course Application Window Now Open for the 2026–2027 Cycle

Applicants may now submit application materials for the 2026–2027 innovative course cycle. Innovative course applications that are considered and approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE) for this upcoming cycle will be made available for districts and open-enrollment charters for the 2026-2027 school year.

To provide guidance on completing the upcoming innovative course application and materials for the 2026–2027 cycle, the innovative courses team will be presenting a series of instructional webinars. These webinars are intended to highlight best practices for completing the application and answer any questions that interested applicants may have concerning the 2026–2027 cycle. To view upcoming webinar dates and register for a session, please visit the TEA innovative courses webpage.

Stakeholders can learn more about innovative courses and the upcoming application cycle on the TEA innovative courses webpage.

Thank you for your commitment to Texas students.

Weston Scholten
Enrichment Coordinator
Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division
https://helpdesk.tea.texas.gov/
(512) 463-9581