Sioux City Community Schools -

The role of the English Language Learners & Dual Language Department is to foster an educational experience rooted in authentic instruction that enhances achievement across all grade levels.

The ELL and Dual Language Department oversees specialized student services and programs designed to meet the unique and individual needs of students. These supports include the following:

• ELL Curriculum (all curriculum- Benchmark, Time Zones)

• Instruction, Assessments (ELPA, DCAs, etc.)

• ELL PD for all certified and non-certified

• ELL Data, TIDE and other ELL data management systems

• ELL Teachers and Building Assignments

• ELL Student Placement and Monitoring

• ELL Infinite Campus flags and score updates

• ELL Task Force

• DL Task Force

• ELL Summer School

• Dual Language Program K-12

• Seal of Biliteracy

With more than 50 languages spoken in the Sioux City Community School District, there is a significant and growing need for enhanced language proficiency, academic support, and social integration. The district serves a diverse population of English Learners (ELs) in grades K-12 through the English Language Learner (ELL) Program. Every building in the Sioux City Community School District offers ELL programming, tailored to meet the specific needs of its students based on data and individual requirements.

Under Iowa law, an EL is defined as a student whose primary language is not English, with English proficiency low enough to decrease the probability of educational success in an English-only classroom.

Approximately 82 percent of the EL students in the district are Spanish-speaking, while other languages include Vietnamese, Somali, Oromo, Amharic, Chuukese, Arabic, and French.

Dual language is a form of bilingual education that teaches students literacy and content in two languages. Studies have shown that children have no difficulty keeping languages separate. The important factor in developing a successful experience for students is to begin the program in kindergarten.

Students enrolled in the dual language program begin their reading instruction in both languages starting in Kindergarten and continue this structure throughout the program. In elementary school, students receive instruction for all subject areas in both Spanish and English.

Elementary students enrolled in the dual language program attend school at Irving Dual Language Elementary School. If a student does not live within the boundary area for Irving, families can complete the Within the District Transfer Form to request enrollment in the dual language program.