Border Program Develops Model for State
Funded by the Texas Education Agency

The Socorro Independent School District is implementing a three-year demonstration project, which integrates EL-Civics learning activities into its ongoing Even Start family literacy program. Targeting beginning level ESL students, the project builds on contemporary research into how adults with low literacy skills best learn English.

The area along the El Paso/Juarez border presents unique challenges to adult language learners. The majority of residents on both sides of the border speak Spanish as their first language. It is not essential to speak English to conduct daily business. In fact, in low income communities like Socorro, it can be hard to find someone who doesn't speak Spanish.

EL-Civics Integrated with Family Literacy

The family literacy program follows the general guidelines of the Even Start program design. Parents and their young children are both enrolled in the program. Parents receive instruction in ESL, basic skills in English and Spanish, parenting, life skills, and family literacy, while their children receive early childhood education either at home, school, or community center. A number of class times and schedules are available to meet student needs. Depending on the school or center, students may attend mornings or afternoons five days a week, or full-day sessions on M-W-F or T-Th-F. All classes are multi-level with students from beginning literacy to advanced intermediate ESL.

Instruction is learner-centered and holistic, utilizing real-world applications, building on the adult learners’ lifetime of experiences, interests and goals for returning to school. Because the adults enter the classroom with a wide range of skills, interests and motivations, teachers provide ample opportunity for students to explore how their classes can help them achieve concrete goals. To the extent possible, learning opportunities are tied to the significant interests expressed by the class. Activities around these compelling themes are developed that are appropriate for students at each level. The civics learning enrichments provided for these programs facilitate a more extended involvement of students with the social institutions that impact their lives and the lives of their children.