The grant objective is to increase the number of highly qualified English as a Second Language and Dual Language/Bilingual Education teachers in West Texas schools.

LEAP UP will seek to recruit in-service teachers to pursue a Bilingual Education/Dual Language or ESL Graduate Certificates and, ultimately, gain the skills and knowledge necessary to teach more effectively in dual language, bilingual education, and English as a Second Language (ESL) K-12 classroom settings.

The LEAP UP grant is a collaboration between multiple partners, including the Texas State Education Agency, the Texas Association for Bilingual Education, the Center for Applied Linguistics, Head Start and Early Head Start El Paso, Education Service Center Region 19, as well as the Canutillo, El Paso, Socorro, and Ysleta Independent School Districts.