Conexiones is an initiative by the EL paso independent school district to bring its knowledge and experience as a language education leader to military connected students

The El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) received a $1.5 million Block Grant award from the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) under the Competitive Grants: Promoting K-12 Student Achievement at Military-Connected Schools program (CFDA 12.556). The award will fund the Conexiones initiative to provide Spanish language education and cultural lessons to 3,879 military-connected students attending four EPISD elementary schools near Fort Bliss through May 2027. In addition to classroom instruction, Conexiones will engage parents through newsletters and family events like an annual language festival to help military families feel more connected to the predominantly Hispanic community. The grant will also support professional development for teachers and administrators to build EPISD's capacity to implement and expand Conexiones. The goal is to increase students' cultural competencies and sense of community inclusion through exposure to the local Spanish language and culture, providing transferable skills as they relocate with their military families.

Historically the districts three thousand eight hundred seventy nine military connected students from fort bliss have had lower participation in dual language because their high mobility prohibits them from taking part in the comprehensive elementary program. Bliss, hughey, milam, and powell elementary schools will pilot the alternative program conexiones that will provide k through 5 students with spanish language education complemented by lessons on hispanic culture. As military connected students learn about the arts, customs, and traditions of the predominantly hispanic region, those who were unfamiliar with the culture will gain exposure to help them acclimate to the broader community. Outside of regular classroom activities, conexiones will engage parents through monthly program newsletters and family night activities culminating in the annual world language festival, further cementing the connections between military connected families and the greater EL paso community. The program will be supported by professional development for teachers and administrators that will build EL paso ISD capacity to implement conexiones and eventually expand IT to other campuses and student populations. Ultimately, this world language initiative will not only increase students exposure to the spanish language and culture of the area surrounding fort bliss but also teach them cultural competencies that will help them feel less isolated from the community. These are transferable skills that will serve military connected students through future relocations, higher education, and their eventual careers.