Ponder ISD Bilingual and ESL Services
Welcome to Ponder ISD's Bilingual and ESL Services! Our dedicated team is committed to fostering a supportive and enriching environment where multilingual students can thrive academically and socially, ensuring every learner reaches their full potential.
To learn more about the process for serving English Language Learners in Texas, click here to watch a short video.
2025-26 Dual Language Important Dates:
Feb 18 @ 6pm and Feb 25 @ 8AM: Parent Info Meeting
Feb 25th: KG and 1st Application Opens
March 26th: KG-1st Application Closes
April 17th: Lottery at 8:00 am
April 21st: Notifications Sent
Ponder ISD Program Models
Dual language in Ponder ISD began with the 24-25 school year in PK & KG and will expand to additional grade levels each year until fully implemented PK-5.
The Dual Language (DL) program is the Bilingual Education model for Ponder ISD. DL focuses on developing English proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing through academic instruction in both English and Spanish. The goal of DL is for students to become Bilingual and Biliterate with sociocultural competency
Bilingual Program (English) (PDF) / (Spanish) (PDF) / (Vietnamese) (PDF)
Ponder ISD Dual Language Processes
We have two models at Ponder ISD:
ESL Content-Based - An English acquisition program that serves students identified as emergent bilingual students through English instruction by a teacher appropriately certified in ESL under TEC, §29.061(c), through English language arts and reading, mathematics, science, and social studies.
ESL Pull-Out - An English acquisition program that serves students identified as emergent bilingual students through English instruction provided by an appropriately certified ESL teacher under the TEC, §29.061(c), through English language arts and reading
ESL Program (English) (PDF) / (Spanish) (PDF) / (Vietnamese) (PDF)