Parents and Families Newsletter
Winter 2025
TXEL Parents and Families Portal
Parental Rights in Bilingual Education
Title III Community Engagement Virtual Event Save the Date (January 28)
Mark your calendars for January 28th! You are invited to join a special community event featuring presenters from across Texas.
This session will provide valuable information and resources to support emergent bilingual students and their families. Parents and families are encouraged to register individually or reach out to their child’s campus to find out if they are hosting a watch party with community and parent members. Visit the T3 Series website to learn more and register today!
TELPAS Testing Window Opens Soon February 16 - March 27, 2026
Shortly after students return from winter break, the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) testing window will open. Emergent bilingual students are required to take the TELPAS every year, including students whose parents have declined bilingual or English as a Second Language program services.
TELPAS measures the progress students make in learning English from year to year. To help your student prepare, access the Texas Assessment Practice and Released Tests website. Here, your child can go through sample assessments by selecting “Practice Tests Login.” Practicing ahead of time can be especially helpful for students who are new to TELPAS or who feel anxious about testing. It also allows them to become familiar with tools used during the test, such as text-to-speech and other language supports.
Parents and Families Portal
Target: Parents and families of Texas EB students
The TXEL Parents and Families Portal provides families with information and resources to ensure the academic success of their EB students.
Access the Parents and Families portal to gain valuable information to support your child.
Go to txel.org.
Click on the “Parents & Families” tab on the right side.
Scroll down to find sections like “Supporting my Child” and “Family Supports” to learn about educational resources for your child and what resources are available to help your family in the community.
Navigate further down the page to find timely announcements as well as featured resources to utilize in helping your child’s academic journey.
Parental Rights Quick Guide
Target: Parents of Texas EB students
The TXEL Parental Rights resource helps parents understand what services schools provide and how to ask questions about their child’s education.
The easiest way to use this resource is to:
Click on the red Parental Rights box.
For more interactive and educational websites for your child, visit txel.org/SupportingChild for more interactive educational websites.
Checking in With Your Child: Small Conversations That Make a Big Difference
Sometimes the best way to support your child’s well-being is through small, everyday check-ins. It can happen on the ride home from school, at the dinner table, or before bedtime, but these moments can reveal a lot about how your child is feeling socially, emotionally, and even academically.
Start with simple, genuine questions
Instead of asking, “How was your day?” (which usually gets a one-word answer), try something more specific, like:
“Who did you sit with at lunch today?”
“What part of your day made you smile?”
“Was there anything that felt stressful or confusing at school?”
These kinds of questions open the door for real conversation and can help you notice changes, like if your child starts sitting alone more often or seems withdrawn after certain classes.
Look for nonverbal clues, too
Some children express how they’re feeling through their actions more than their words. A quiet car ride, a shorter tone, a change in appetite, or sleep can all be signs that something’s on their mind. Keeping a calm, judgment-free space encourages them to open up when they’re ready.
Make check-ins part of your weekly routine
Set aside a few minutes to talk about their week: friends, teachers, topics learned, or any moments that stood out. Ask questions like:
“When did you feel most included this week?”
“Which class do you feel most comfortable speaking up in?’
“Is there someone at school you can go to if you need help?”
You can also make check-ins playful. Try the “Rose, Thorn, and Bud” game: share one good
thing, one challenge, and one thing to look forward to.
Bridge home and school
If you notice that your child seems isolated, anxious, or unusually stressed, reach out to a counselor, advisor, or teacher. Together, you can brainstorm ways to help your child feel more connected. Remember, kids thrive when they feel supported and understood. Checking in, through small questions and intentional listening, helps them build emotional awareness and trust. Those few minutes of connection each day remind them that their thoughts and feelings matter, both at home and at school.
Family Recipe Fun:
Pick a favorite holiday recipe and cook it together. Read the steps out loud, listen for directions, and have your child help mix, count, or name the ingredients. Afterward, they can draw or write about their favorite part of cooking together.
Story Night:
Have each family member choose a short story, poem, or favorite book to read aloud. Take turns listening and asking questions about the story, then invite your child to write or draw a new ending to it.
Winter Reflection Journal:
Encourage your teen to keep a short journal during Winter Break. They can write about favorite memories, goals for the new year, or something they’re thankful for. At the end of the break, have a family conversation where everyone shares one reflection.
Creating a College-Going Culture at Home and School
At School:
Parents can encourage their children to join school activities that build confidence and teamwork, like sports, service clubs, or academic groups. These experiences help students find their interests and learn skills that will help them in college and careers. Families can also remind students to talk with school counselors, college advisors, or trusted teachers about their goals.
At Home:
Parents and caregivers can also build a college mindset at home. Talk with your child about what subjects they enjoy and what jobs they might like one day. A college visit is closer and easier than you think! You can explore local colleges online, visit campuses, or meet with college staff virtually.
Explore more:
The Texas College Access Network has great tools to help prepare you and your child for college. It includes guides for first-generation college students, resources to track readiness, and programs that connect schools and advisors. When families and schools work together, students gain the confidence and direction to plan for a bright future.
Subscribe to the Site
Stay informed about the resources and support available by subscribing to TEA’s Txel.org web portal.
Click on the Subscribe Today!
Supporting Emergent Bilingual Students in Texas
TXEL.org is a web portal that provides information and resources that are relevant, accessible, and impactful to support educational leaders, teachers, parents and families, and community partners to ensure the academic success of the State’s emergent bilingual students.
Contact us at: https://www.txel.org/contact/
Email: EmergentBilingualSupport@tea.texas.gov
Visit: www.tea.texas.gov