Intake Flowchart for LUCHA Process for Transcript Services
Clint ISD
Clint ISD began using the University of Texas at Austin’s LUCHA program during the 2010-2011 school
year. The objective of the LUCHA program is to assist school Districts with placing secondary Spanishspeaking English Language Learners – primarily immigrant students from Mexico – in the appropriate
subject and grade in order to ease the transition into Texas schools without losing time and credits. The
influx of students from Mexico necessitated a standard practice for reviewing transcripts and placing
credits. The Instructional Services Department, contacted school districts around the state, especially
those along the border regions, and determined how each district was reviewing transcripts and
determining student credits and placement. LUCHA was referred to us by Brownsville ISD and our ESL
Coordinator contacted them to review their protocol. The program was reviewed and adopted by Clint
ISD to ensure consistent placement of students and credits from Mexico. LUCHA services were first
introduced through the LEP – SSI Grant. Then I researched LUCHA’s services with Brownsville ISD and
Pasadena ISD and was able to see how those districts used it.
Clint ISD staff members send Mexican student transcripts to LUCHA to be analyzed for Texas credit
recommendations. The program conducts an in-depth analysis of the actual curriculum from the
Mexican courses and compares that to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and then
recommends the actual courses that students should receive credit. Clint ISD then receives a formal
graduation credit analysis that lists the school year the student completed the course, the PEIMS
number of the Texas equivalent course, the student’s course grade and the LUCHA credit
recommendation. All courses listed on the student’s transcript are listed on the analysis document,
including courses that there is no Texas equivalent.
LUCHA not only reviews transcripts that Clint ISD sends them, they will also assist in gathering the
transcripts if a student does not have his/her official transcripts available. Clint ISD staff provides LUCHA
with the student’s information through an online system and the LUCHA personnel contact the
appropriate educational agencies at the national and state levels in Mexico to facilitate the acquisition
of transcripts from schools in every region of Mexico. Once the transcript is obtained, LUCHA will
analyze the information and send the credits and analysis to Clint ISD.
Once the recommendations are received, the campus will review the LUCHA documentation and award
credits based on the recommendations. The counselors will then transcribe the courses that credit was
awarded and places students in the appropriate grade level. The timeframe for Clint ISD to receive the
recommendation from LUCHA averages about three weeks. Depending on the information, the
recommendations may take a little longer; if the student has no transcript information, LUCHA may have
to contact several agencies to obtain the information.
Intake Flowchart for LUCHA Process for Transcript Services
Clint ISD
Main Campus office recieves immigrant
student to complete school application
and language testing (if applicable)
Counselor and/or Assistant Principal
interview immigrant sudent for admission
and to review school rules and regulations
Counselor creates temporary course
schedule based on available information
Criteria for LUCHA transcript services:
1. Student is from Mexico
2. Student has completed Secundaria
For transcript obtainment, request all
transcripts from 8th grade and beyond
Counselor uses LUCHA online system to
request transcript services
(if applicable)
Counselors award credits based on
LUCHA recommendations
Student schedule modified based on
LUCHA recommendations (if appropriate)
Concerns or issues are resolved by
Campus Principal.