By: Dr. Norma Martinez, Director of Secondary Curriculum & Instruction

Goose Creek CISD is proud to announce its 3rd place achievement in the large district category of SummitK12’s prestigious "The Summies" awards. Competing against 650 districts across Texas, this recognition highlights outstanding achievements in educational technology and student outcomes for Emergent Bilingual students. This accomplishment reflects the district's effective use of SummitK12 resources, innovative implementation strategies, and impressive TELPAS scores. TELPAS (Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System) measures the progress of Emergent Bilingual students in acquiring English, and Goose Creek CISD’s results demonstrate significant growth in this area.

A key achievement for the district is the reclassification of 430 Emergent Bilingual students in the 2023-2024 school year. According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), reclassification occurs when students have reached the necessary language proficiency to no longer need bilingual or ESL services. This milestone is critical as it shows these students have developed the academic English skills required to succeed in mainstream classrooms.

Zamira Torres-Banda, Associate Director for the Multilingual and Migrant Education Department, expressed, “Given Goose Creek CISD’s large, diverse population, including many emergent bilingual students, this recognition highlights our commitment to equity and inclusion. It’s an impactful testament to the programs and initiatives that we’ve helped lead which are making a real difference, especially in addressing the unique needs of our emergent bilingual students."

With over 25% of the student population identified as Emergent Bilingual, this award underscores Goose Creek CISD's dedication to enhancing student learning, increasing engagement, and empowering bilingual students through the use of technology. To learn more about the Bilingual and ESL programs within the Multilingual and Migrant Education Department, please visit: www.gccisd.net/page/multilingual.home