Austin Independent School District officials, parents, volunteers, and community members gathered on Apr. 9 to celebrate the graduation of 153 participants from the district’s 2026 English for Me program. The ceremony recognized graduates representing 22 campuses across Austin ISD.
The event highlights efforts to support non-English-speaking parents in gaining language skills that can help them engage with their children’s education and broader community life. The English for Me program offers free classes at local schools from October through April, focusing on grammar, vocabulary, and practical language skills in areas such as housing, health, finance, work, education, and citizenship.
Classes are led by parent support staff and volunteers. Upon completing the curriculum in April, participants don caps and gowns to receive certificates during a formal graduation ceremony. This year’s group included individuals whose first languages ranged from Spanish and Chuj to French, Lingala, Portuguese and Q’anjo’bal.
The program was previously known as Maestro en Casa under the MATT Foundation but was relaunched in 2025 with new districtwide activities like master classes and karaoke contests aimed at building confidence among learners. Since its inception eleven years ago, a total of 1,467 people have graduated from the initiative.
During this year’s ceremony Humberto Hernández Haddad of the Consulate General of Mexico in Austin presented certificates to graduates. “It was truly inspiring to witness the achievement of the 153 graduates, including 60 people from Mexico, who completed this important English as Second Language program across 22 schools in Austin ISD,” Hernández Haddad said. “This accomplishment reflects not only their dedication and perseverance but also the strong commitment of Austin ISD to fostering inclusive and empowering educational opportunities.”
Austin Independent School District supports a multicultural environment with over one hundred languages spoken by students according to its official website. The district operates more than one hundred diverse school communities serving over seventy-two thousand students according to its official website, employs more than five thousand classroom teachers according to its official website, maintains a graduation rate above ninety-three percent according to its official website, provides instruction in more than one hundred languages with programs offered in eleven other languages besides English according to its official website, and partners with families so students are equipped for success beyond school according to its official website.
Registration for fall sessions will begin this summer; interested community members may join a waitlist by email.
