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BASTROP — Bastrop Independent School District’s dual language program is growing, with more than 860 elementary students now learning to read, write and speak in both English and Spanish, officials said.
According to the district, the expansion is part of a long-term plan to implement its Dual Language Immersion One Way model in all elementary grades. Currently offered in pre-kindergarten through second grade, the program aims to build biliteracy and bicultural fluency by using paired literacy instruction and vocal learning strategies.
“This is not just a name change,” said Lost Pines Elementary Principal Lezlie Ringstaff. “Families value their home language. They want their students to continue to speak their home language and learn English—we are seeing lots of appreciation from families through that lens.”
Unlike traditional bilingual education, Ringstaff said Bastrop ISD’s model focuses on developing communication and literacy in both languages. Oracy, the practice of structured spoken language, plays a central role in supporting vocabulary development, comprehension and classroom achievement, she added.
“There’s not a lot of people that can speak two languages,” one student said in a promotional video. “I’m lucky to be bilingual because I can speak with more people.”
The new immersion model will add one grade level each year through 2029, according to the district, ultimately serving students up through fifth grade with a 50/50 English-Spanish instruction split. The ESL program in Bastrop ISD also provides content-based and pull-out instruction, supporting students at all eight elementary campuses, as well as the district’s middle and high schools.
District leaders said the effort reflects a broader vision for equity and opportunity.
“Our goal for multilingual learners is biliteracy,” Ringstaff said. “We strive to prepare all students to be effective communicators with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a diverse global community.”
