School districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and districts of innovation that are unable to provide the appropriately certified teachers to implement the bilingual education program and/or ESL program must request from the commissioner of education an exception for the bilingual education program and/or ESL program and approval to offer a temporary alternative language program as per 19 TAC §89.1207(a).

All applications are due on or before November 1.

• TEA Bilingual Education Exception and ESL Waiver Resources
• Bilingual Education Exception Scenario Chain (PDF) and Explanatory Video - Bilingual Programs (running time 18:34)
• English as a Second Language (ESL) Waiver Scenario Chain (PDF) and Explanatory Video - ESL Programs (running time 13:09)
• Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ): Bilingual Education Exception and ESL Waiver (updated August 2020)