Parents and Families Newsletter

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Boletín informativo para Padres y Familias.

Welcome to the Back To School edition of the Parents and Families Newsletter! A new school year is a time for fresh starts and strong connections between home and school. Families can help children feel ready to learn by attending campus events, staying in touch with teachers, and supporting their child at home. Reading, speaking, and sharing stories in your home language also helps your child build strong language skills that support learning in English, too.

In this issue, you will find more information on the following topics:

• Learning about school transfers and back-to-school events

• Understanding the benefits of bilingualism

• Exploring TXEL resources for bilingual, ESL, and reclassification support

• Checking in with your child during the new school year

• Planning for college, career, and financial aid options

Please take a moment to complete our quick survey and share your thoughts or suggestions for the next newsletter. We truly value and appreciate your input.

Thank you for all that you do to support your child’s education, language development, and success this school year!

Families are invited to save the date for the 2026 Parent and Family Engagement (PFE) Conference, which is now part of GCA Con. GCA Con stands for Grant Compliance Administration Conference.

This statewide event is a great way for families to learn about programs that support students who are learning English. Families can also learn how these programs help children succeed in all school subjects.

Conference Details

• Dates: November 10–12, 2026

• Location: Henry B. González Convention Center – San Antonio, Texas

• Parent Day: November 10

Parent Day Registration

• Registration opened May 11

• Cost: $50 per person

• Childcare will not be provided

During the conference, families will have the chance to connect with other parents and hear from educators and programs that support multilingual learners across Texas.

Texas families can save money during the 2026 Sales Tax Holiday, also known as Tax-Free Weekend. This year, the tax-free weekend begins Friday, August 7, 2026, and ends at midnight on Sunday, August 9, 2026.

During this time, many school-related items can be bought tax free including most clothing, shoes, school supplies, and backpacks that cost less than $100 per item.

Families can shop in a Texas store or buy from an online or catalog seller that does business in Texas. In most cases, you do not need a special form to get the tax-free savings.

It is important to remember that items only qualify if they are bought during the sales tax holiday. Items bought before or after August 7–9 do not qualify, and families cannot get a tax refund later.

This is a great time to plan ahead and buy school supplies, clothes, and shoes your child may need for the new school year. For more details and a full list of qualifying items, visit the
Texas Comptroller’s Sales Tax Holiday webpage.

Speaking more than one language is a powerful skill that helps children build strong thinking skills.

Researchers have found that bilingual children often practice skills that help executive function, or the brain’s ability to focus, solve problems, and switch between tasks. For example, when children know two languages, their brain works to choose the right language for the right time. This gives the brain practice with attention and flexible thinking.

The University of Washington shared research showing that bilingual children had more activity in parts of the brain connected to problem-solving and attention. This shows that the brain can benefit from hearing and using more than one language at an early age.

Reading in your home language is one of the best ways to help your child build vocabulary. When children read or listen to stories in a language they know well, they learn new words, new ideas, and how language works.

Research from Florida State University looked at young Spanish-speaking dual language learners. The study found that home language and reading activities were connected to vocabulary growth.

Families can support this growth in simple ways. You can read books, recipes, signs, letters, or messages together. You can also ask your child to talk about their day, explain a story, or write a short note to a family member.

These small moments help your child practice language in both spoken and written forms. Your home language is a strength. When you use it often, you help your child build vocabulary, confidence, and a strong base for learning English.

The TXEL Portal has helpful brochures for you to learn more about bilingual and ESL programs in Texas schools. These brochures explain how schools support emergent bilingual students as they learn English and continue learning in all subject areas and the services their child may receive at school. They can also help you prepare questions for teachers, school staff, or the LPAC.

Children do not always say, “I am stressed,” “I feel left out,” or “I need help.” Sometimes, they show their feelings in other ways. They may be quieter than usual, get upset more easily, complain about school, sleep more or less, or stop enjoying activities they used to like.

Families can support children by noticing small changes. You know your child best. If something feels different, it may be a good time to gently check in.

Start by naming what you see in a calm way. You might say:

“I noticed you have been quieter after school this week.”
“I noticed homework has felt harder lately.”
“I noticed you did not seem excited about practice today.”

Then give your child a choice for how to respond. Some children like to talk. Others may feel more comfortable drawing, writing, walking, or sitting near you. You can say:

“Do you want to talk about it, draw it, or just sit together for a few minutes?”

This helps your child feel safe instead of pressured. It also shows them that there is more than one way to share feelings.

You can also use simple non-verbal check-ins. Ask your child to show a thumbs up, thumbs sideways, or thumbs down for how their day felt. Younger children can point to a face on a feelings chart. Older children may prefer writing a quick note or sending a text.

The goal is not to fix every problem right away. The goal is to show your child, “I see you. I care. I am here.” When children feel supported at home, they are more likely to ask for help at school, with friends, and in activities.

At-home learning does not have to feel like extra homework. Simple activities like reading, drawing, talking, playing games, or exploring new ideas together can help your child connect school learning to everyday life and build confidence, curiosity, and language skills in English and in your home language.

Word families help children see patterns in reading and spelling. A word family is a group of words that have the same ending sound, like cat, hat, bat, and sat.

To play, choose one word ending, such as -at, -op, or -ake. Then ask your child to make as many words as they can with that ending. You can write the words on paper, say them out loud, or turn it into a timed challenge.

This activity helps children notice sounds and spelling patterns. It can also help them read new words with more confidence.

Pictionary is a fun way to help your child learn new words. Choose a word, then have your child draw it while others guess. You can use words from school, home, books, or daily life.

After someone guesses the word, ask your child to say the word out loud and use it in a sentence. For example, if the word is “garden,” your child might say, “The flowers grow in the garden.”

Families can play this game in English, in the home language, or in both languages. This helps children build vocabulary, practice speaking, and explain their ideas in a fun way.

Preparing for life after high school can begin with simple conversations at home. Families can help students think about what they enjoy, what they are good at, and what kind of future they want. When students connect their interests to college, career, and finances, they can start making plans that support both their goals and their future needs.

Career and Technical Education, also called CTE, helps students learn skills for future jobs. CTE programs may include areas like health care, technology, business, education, construction, or agriculture.

For bilingual students, CTE can be a great opportunity. Students can build career skills by solving problems, working on a team, using technology, and explaining their ideas while also using their language skills. This can help them prepare for jobs where speaking more than one language is a strength, like in the medical field or a service-based business.

Families can ask their child’s school about CTE options. You may ask what programs are offered, whether students can earn a certificate, and how your child’s language skills can support their career goals.

College is an amazing option for many students to improve their lives, even when families are unsure about financial aid. The most important step is to ask questions early so students know which forms to complete and what support may be available.

In Texas, high school students must complete one of these steps before graduation: the FAFSA, the TASFA, or an opt-out form.

The FAFSA is used for federal, state, and school financial aid. Students who are eligible to complete the FAFSA should usually complete that form first. More information can be found on FAFSA’s Types of Financial Aid page.

The TASFA is for students who do not complete the FAFSA but may still qualify for state or school financial aid in Texas. Students should not complete both forms. Families should contact the college or university their child plans to attend and ask which form is right for them. Families can visit the Post-Secondary Readiness page on the TXEL portal to learn more about the TASFA.

Families can also ask a school counselor or college financial aid office about admissions, tuition, scholarships, and deadlines. Asking early can help students understand their choices and make a strong plan for life after high school.

A strong school year begins with a strong connection between home and school. When families talk with teachers, ask questions, attend school events, and share important information about their child, students feel more supported and ready to learn.

Your role in your child’s education matters every day. Simple actions, like checking in after school, reading together, and staying connected with the school can make a big difference. As the new school year begins, we hope this issue helps your family feel informed, encouraged, and ready for a successful year ahead!

All of our Newsletters can be found on the Newsletters page on the TXEL.org website. Click through the past editions to find additional information and resources designed for you and your child.

Stay informed about the resources and support available by subscribing to TEA’s Txel.org web portal.

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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