MISD Superintendent Addresses Decline of Bilingual Programs

I have to start off my article this week by conveying much appreciation for all of our school stakeholders – our kids, our teachers and staff members, parents, and all supporters – who have worked so hard these first three months of school.  It’s crazy that we’re already talking about Thanksgiving right now.  Every school year seems to go by faster than the last one.  I cannot be more proud of the work ethic and dedication our students and staff are displaying, and I am equally proud of the support we are getting from our parents/caregivers and community.

Over the last twelve years that I have been a superintendent, I have always enjoyed writing these articles for the community in which I serve.  As I allude to above, I have been especially pleased with being associated with Midland and MISD.  However, since I have been writing these articles, I have made the decision to give the district’s constituents the great news of the school district, but also the bad and sometimes even the ugly.  It is the “ugly” that I am going to concentrate this article on, because I feel we all need to be on the same page with every issue and challenge facing our kids and the school district as a whole.

Last week I received a letter from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).  This letter focused on our Bilingual and English as a Second Language programs.  This letter stated very plainly that TEA will no longer accept the failure of the Midland ISD Bilingual/ESL program, and that changes have to occur immediately to avoid state-level repercussions.  For those in our community unfamiliar with this issue, MISD has experienced a drastic decline in academic success rates among our students served by these programs.  On a state rating of zero to four – with zero being the best – MISD has received a Stage Four rating the last four out of five years. 

Even before I applied for the superintendent’s position, I knew through my research of the school district that this was going to be an issue. Additionally, when the Midland ISD Board of Trustees set my yearly performance objectives for the 2010-11 school year, the focus on our bilingual programs was the top priority.  I have also come to the conclusion that many do not understand the need for a quality program, so please let me quote our state law.

According to the Texas Education Code (state law), TEC 29.051…


“Public schools are responsible for providing a full opportunity for all students to become competent in speaking, reading, writing, and comprehending the English language.  Large numbers of students in the state come from environments in which the primary language is other than English.  Experience has shown that public school classes in which instruction is given only in English are often inadequate for the education of those students.  The mastery of basic English language skills is a prerequisite for effective participation in the state's educational program.” 

As I speak to community groups in Midland, many folks are shocked that there are seventeen different languages spoken by children in MISD.  This kind of diversity creates real challenges for our programs, and most definitely for our classroom teachers.  As with all students who fall under the state’s education accountability system, the success rates of these students are tracked, on a yearly basis, and districts are rated for that success or lack of success, and for Midland ISD, it has been the latter. 

The issuance of the letter from TEA brings the threat of several different sanctions that the agency could bring against the district – the worst being the appointment of a state-level conservator to oversee the Bilingual/ESL program.  TEA conservators basically take over the decision-making responsibilities of the local school board and the administration, and that is something we are not going to let happen.  Please understand that I take full responsibility for this issue, and working with the MISD school board, our district-level and campus-level administrators, and with the thousands of educators and staff members of the district, we will create programs to serve these children that will become state models of excellence.

With all of this “gloom and doom,” please know there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.  In fact, we have already experienced an upward shift in our ratings.  From our test scores last spring, MISD was upgraded from a Stage 4 to a Stage 3, and our expectations are that we will reach a Stage 0 (the very best rating for the program) in a short period of time.

As both the superintendent of schools and as a parent of the district, my expectations for all of our students are through the roof.  We cannot ignore any of our students as they progress through the school system.  From our most severely learning disabled students to the kids who take every Advanced Placement course we offer, the district must assure all programs challenge the kids every day to stretch to new heights, and in my opinion (though I have only been here a short period of time) this community, the school board, our staff members of the district, and most important – our students, will not accept anything less than excellence.

Thank you for your support of our schools, our school district, and most importantly, your support of our kids.  Feel free to call me at the office (689-1002) or email me at ryder.warren@midlandisd.net – I might be busy at the time you contact me, but I will make time to respond to your needs.