Update: Transitional Bilingual Instruction Program (TBIP), 2012-2013

This report provides an update on the Transitional Bilingual Instruction Program (TBIP). In 2012-13, 104,025 English language learners (ELLs) received state services through the TBIP. This was an increase of just over 9% from the previous year. Most students live in urban areas along Interstate 5 corridor and in rural areas like the Yakima Valley. TBIP is funded through the Transitional Bilingual Instruction Act of 1979 (RCW 28A.180) and provides English language instructional support until eligible students can meet the program's exit criteria. The Washington English Language Proficiency Assessment (WELPA) measures ELLs' proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking and is given to current TBIP students annually in February and March. Test results determine a student's continued eligibility or transition from TBIP. About 12.5% of ELLs who took the WELPA transitioned out of the TBIP in 2012-13. The median time needed for ELLs to transition out of the program has remained fairly stable for the past seven years at about 2.8 years. The percentage of ELLs who made progress toward attaining English proficiency decreased 2.6% from the previous year. A total of 199 languages were represented in Washington schools during the 2012-13 school year. Spanish was the most common non-English home language, spoken by 67% of ELLs. The next 17% of TBIP students spoke Russian, Vietnamese, Somali, Chinese, Ukrainian, Korean, Tagalog or Arabic. In the 2012-13 school year, the state provided $82.5 million in supplemental funding for services to English language learners. This was an 8.2% increase from 2011-12, but only 3.6% more than 2010-11. Ninety-seven percent of program funding is primarily used for salaries and benefits of instructional staff in districts and schools. There was a 2.4% increase in teacher Full-time Equivalents (FTE) and a 3.9% increase in instructional aide FTE in 2012-13. The 2013-15 Operating Budget (Third Engrossed Senate House Bill 5034-Section 514) provides additional funding for transitional academic support for the first two years after a student exits the program.