COPPERAS COVE – The bilingual program in Copperas Cove has been recognized for its excellence in helping students from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
The CCISD emergent bilingual program recently received 3rd place Extra-Small District of the Year in the Summies. The Summies awards recognize the work of the 4,000 campuses in Texas which use Summit K12 to help English language-learning students grow on the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System, or TELPAS.
“For our district, this award is a reminder that, when we invest in language learning and empower every student to succeed, we open doors to limitless opportunities,” said Rita Alaniz, CCISD’s Director of Emergent Bilingual Education. “This achievement belongs to our classrooms – it’s a testament to what happens when educators and students work together to achieve excellence.”
CCISD’s emergent bilingual program serves students who speak 30 languages, as of October 2025.
In each of the past three years, multiple 5th-grade students in Copperas Cove ISD have earned their Language Other Than English credit, a requirement to graduate from high school, before finishing elementary school
“The work Mrs. Alaniz and our bilingual team put into the education of each student is nothing short of remarkable,” said Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins. “Our entire staff works tirelessly to ensure every student in Copperas Cove gets an education which prepares them for a successful life after high school, and this award shows that our bilingual team continues to hit this mark.”
TELPAS, the results of which led to CCISD’s receiving of this award, is designed by the Texas Education Agency to measure a student’s progress in learning English through four language domains: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
“This recognition celebrates the incredible dedication of our students and the unwavering commitment of our teachers,” Alaniz said. “It reflects the hard work, resilience and innovation that defines our emergent bilingual program.”