An Analysis of Texas Superintendents' Bilingual/ESL Teacher Recruitment and Retention Practices

Abstract

An Analysis of Texas Superintendents' Bilingual/ESL Teacher Recruitment and Retention PracticesThe number of English language learners (ELL) students as reported by the 2000 U.S.Census are over 53,000,000 with Spanish being the top language group among the students (National Clearinghouse of English Language Acquisition, 2003).More specifically, in 1997-98, Texas public schools reported 519,921 students enrolled and identified as ELL in Early Education (EE) through Grade 12.According to the Texas Education Agency (2000), between the six-year period of 1991-92 and 1997-98 Texas public schools experienced an increase of 44% in the ELL population.Although the increase in enrollment indicated a total growth of 44% in the ELL population, it is important to note that 122,526 or 77% of the 158,794 new LEP students reported were enrolled in elementary grades in 1997-98.This extraordinary growth places further demands on districts to hire specialized teachers with appropriate certification to address the academic and linguistic needs of ELL students required to be served in a bilingual education program (Texas Education Agency, 2000).A study conducted by researchers at Texas A&M University in 2001-2002 determined that the greatest shortage in the bilingual/ESL area occurred at the elementary level; the study also found a critical shortage at the secondary level, as school districts were unable to fill 40% of open secondary bilingual/ESL positions (Texas A&M University, 2002).Increases in the U.S. and Texas ELL population contrast with the shortage of teachers that serve these ELL students.Although the ELL population in Texas was reported in 2000 at 13%, only 8% of the certified teacher population in the state served bilingual/ESL students (AEIS, 2002).The Texas Education Agency, in 2001, listed bilingual/ESL teachers as among the four critical shortage areas for certified personnel and issued a press release that indicated a critical

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