Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE) Records, 1977-2004

Administrative History

The Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE) was established in 1972 in San Antonio as an advocacy group for "the rights of language minority children," particularly Spanish-speaking students. Affiliated with the National Association of Bilingual Education, with regional Associations of Bilingual Education throughout Texas, and with the Bilingual Education Student Organization (BESO), TABE is a professional association for its membership, which includes educators of all grade levels, administrators, college students, and parents interested in promoting bilingual education. Today the TABE pursues "the implementation of educational policies and effective bilingual-bicultural programs that promote equal educational opportunity and academic excellence for language minority students" by analyzing bilingual education in Texas, working with public schools to develop such programs, and interacting with local and national educational policy-making bodies.

The administrative structure of the TABE is constituted by the Executive Board of Directors and its annually elected officers, the House of Delegates, and several Committees: BESO Student Representative, Bilingual/ESL, Constitution, Instructional and Professional Development, Parent Representative, and Publications and Archives, in addition to ad-hoc committees for legislative initiatives and annual conference planning. Activities of the TABE include holding an Annual Conference, conducting quarterly and annual meetings of the Executive Board, Committees, and Affiliate Leaders, and awarding the Bilingual/ESL Teacher of the Year Award, established in 1989 "for the purpose of recognizing outstanding teaching and meritorious service by bilingual education teachers in Texas." The TABE also awards annual scholarships to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students interested in pursuing a career in bilingual education. The TABE studies pending state and national legislation "affecting the educational needs of linguistically and culturally diverse children," and works with policy-making bodies "such as the Texas Legislature, the State Board of Education, the Texas Education Agency and the United States Department of Education." The TABE also produces several publications (including The Journal of the TABE, TABE News, and anthology collections of essays and readings) and conducts seminars for educators and parents to promote enrichment and dual-language bilingual education programs.

Source: Texas Association for Bilingual Education, "TABE Mission Statement," 2003, http://www.tabe.org/mission.htm (28 November 2007).

Scope and Contents Note

Printed material, correspondence, meeting agendas and minutes, reports, financial documentation, photographs, creative works, scrapbooks, and artifacts (1977-2004; 37.5 linear inches) make up the records for the Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE) and document the activities of the organization in promoting bilingual education both in Texas and nationwide. The records are divided into two subgroups: TABE (1979–2004, n.d.; 35.5 linear inches), and Associated Organizations (1977-2002; 2 inches).

The TABE subgroup materials are divided into six series: Administrative Records, Annual Conferences, Teacher of the Year Award Portfolios, Publications, Collections, and Photographs. These materials illuminate the functions and activities of the organization.    Administrative Records bulk with annual collections of records kept in binders from the Board of Directors, the House of Delegates, the Treasurer, the Secretary, and several committees [see series descriptions in arrangement]. The original organization of the binders was maintained; additional administrative records can be found in respective department subseries. Issues covered in the administrative records include bilingual education topics, conference planning, publication management, legal dealings, constitutional workings, and financial management.

The    TABE Annual Conferences (1985–2003; 11 linear inches) are extensively documented, including programs, post-conference reports, scrapbooks, and promotional material.    Teacher of the Year Nominee Portfolios (1990–1992, 1999-2004; 8.5 linear inches) are arranged by year and alphabetically, each containing the curriculum vitae, teaching philosophy, evidence of professional and community involvement, letters of reference, photographs, and additional material the nominee may have seen fit to include. The collection includes several    Publications, including the Journal of the TABE and TABE News. Finally, the TABE materials include    Collected documentation such as newspaper clippings, multicultural literature, and students’ artwork, and a small series of    Photographs.

The    Associated and Other Organizations subgroup (1977–2002, n.d.; 2 linear inches) contains promotional material and publications from the following organizations: Bilingual Education Association of the Metroplex (BEAM), Bilingual Education Student Organization (BESO), Dallas Association for Bilingual Education (DABE), Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA), National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE), National Education Association (NEA), Texas Education Agency (TEA), as well as from Portland Public Schools, the Rigbys company, and Festival Internacional de la Raza VII.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted.

Use Restrictions

Standard copyright restrictions apply.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Cite as: Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE) Records, Benson Latin American Collection, University of Texas Libraries, the University of Texas at Austin.

Box and Folder Inventory