Sioux Falls district to expand co‑teaching for English learners after pilot showed stronger growth

The Sioux Falls School District presented an English learners (EL) update showing roughly 3,114 EL students in the district and the results of a co‑planning/co‑teaching pilot. Miss Clawson told the board that students who experienced co‑teaching showed greater scaled‑score growth on the WIDA access assessment than students who did not, and recommended expanding co‑planning and co‑teaching as the primary instructional model for EL students over the next three years.

"Students who experienced co teaching had greater growth than students who didn't experience co teaching," Miss Clawson said, while noting students who did not experience co‑teaching still demonstrated growth. She explained the pilot began with five schools, expanded to 10 in the second year (two high schools, two middle schools and six elementary schools), and that the district will roll out co‑teaching two grades at a time across buildings, one content area at a time at middle school and one FTE at a time at high school.

Board members asked about regional and national comparisons; Miss Clawson said the district compares to surrounding districts and the state average and that Sioux Falls contains about 40% of the state's EL population. When asked about funding, Miss Clawson said the initiatives are locally funded through the general fund, with federal Title III/Title I funds supplemental.

The board voted to acknowledge the update by voice vote.