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PISD - District initiatives designed for success

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Monday, 07 August 2006

• Elementary support programs: The district will be adding a fourth Spanish bilingual campus with the opening of Highland Park Elementary. Parmer Lane, Copperfield, and Caldwell elementaries are also Spanish bilingual campuses. The district serves Vietnamese bilingual students at River Oaks elementary. The state provides Spanish textbooks for all Spanish bilingual students. However, state Vietnamese student books are not available. In order to attract and keep high quality staff, the district provides a stipend for all bilingual teachers. English Language Learners with primary languages other than English are served on all campuses through English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. For more information, contact Susan Oglesbee, Executive Director of Elementary Education and Student Service.

• New Comers At least 50 languages are represented in the district. New Comers is designed for students entering secondary school from another country and need help with language. The one year program at Pflugerville Middle, Westview Middle and Dessau Middle School helps students learn how to get around the campus and familiarizes them with the customs and cultural aspects as well as teaching them to speak English. Connally houses the only high school program and will this year initiate an innovative program using iPods with downloaded content on video with vocabulary streamed across it. Contact Susan Oglesbee, Executive Director of Elementary Education and Student Services.

• Mentoring, Encouraging, Nurturing (MEN) is a partnering program begun last year. Its purpose is to involve men interested in making a difference in the lives of students. Those involved offer tutoring, mentoring, manpower for school activities. Training provided. Contact Randy Reese, 594-0093.

• Advanced Placement grant is in the fifth year of a million dollar grant from AP strategies of Dallas. AP classes allow students to test out of certain college classes. In the last five years, scores have increased and enrollment is up. Goals include increasing participation in the classes, increasing test scores and increasing the underrepresented populations including minority and low socio-economic students. Contact Sarah Lucas, Coordinator of Advanced Academic Services, 594-0110.

• College Connection is an ACC program that helps students move the application process for any college or university. Additional assistance is available for financial aid application, essay writing, and college entrance testing. If students complete the program, they receive automatic acceptance to ACC. Contact Dr. Terrence Eaton, executive director of secondary education, 594-0122.