Should My Child Be in ESL Classes? A Houston Teacher’s Opinion

If you’re a Houston parent wondering whether your child should be in ESL classes, you are not overthinking it.

Most school districts offer multilingual, bilingual, or ESL programming. Houston ISD has districtwide multilingual program models, and districts like Katy ISD and Spring Branch ISD also offer formal ESL services. Texas also has statewide rules around bilingual and ESL programming for emergent bilingual students, including placement guidance and parent approval through what is known as the LPAC process.

I’ve helped manage these programs on several campuses, so I know the people running them are usually doing their best to help students improve their English language skills.

But here is the hard truth: a program existing on paper is not the same thing as a student getting enough real support.

Why ESL support in schools is often not enough

I say that with respect for teachers, because I have been there.

I’m a Houston native, and for over a decade I’ve worked with students whose strengths do not always show up in their writing, reading, or speaking at school.

Teachers, especially in English and ESL, are often overworked and under-supported. ESL classes may have too many students for meaningful individualized help. Teachers are juggling paperwork, testing requirements, grading, and strict deadlines. And for students learning English, their work often takes more time to assess well.

So even when teachers are doing their best, many students still do not get the level of support they need to truly thrive.

That is not always a teacher problem. It is often a system problem.

Funding and policy matter too

There is also a bigger policy issue families should understand.

Title III is the main federal funding stream specifically aimed at helping English learners and immigrant students build English proficiency and academic success. The Trump administration’s FY2026 budget request proposed eliminating that funding entirely. Congress ultimately kept Title III at $890 million, but it was not increased.

That means schools still have these programs, but the broader picture is one of pressure, uncertainty, and flat support rather than stronger investment.

Should you accept ESL services if your child qualifies?

In most cases, yes.

Even if the current education system does not give English learners all the support they deserve, ESL classes taught by certified ESL teachers usually provide more support and more time to learn than a standard English class alone.

So if your child qualifies, I would generally encourage you to take that opportunity.

That said, your child may not love it at first.

They may feel different, singled out, or embarrassed. That is real. If your child is placed in ESL support services, it helps to protect their confidence at home too. Support them with homework, stay involved, and make sure school struggles are not becoming their whole identity.

When should you get help outside of school?

If your child speaks socially in English but still struggles with essays, reading comprehension, written responses, grammar, or academic vocabulary, it may be time for more targeted support.

That is where my work comes in.

At Conway Learning, I provide personalized English tutoring for teens and college students in Houston and beyond. I help students with reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, academic language, and the overlap between language and executive functioning. Sessions are one-on-one and tailored to what is actually getting in the way, not just the category on the school paperwork.

If your child is in ESL, being considered for ESL, or still struggling even with school support, you can learn more about my English tutoring services.