Welcome! Our website hosts a vast amount of information that we hope will be helpful for you.  Please contact us if you have any questions or comments.  Thank you for visiting us online!

The English Language Learner (ELL) & Dual Language Department strives to provide a premier education for language learners, with long-range goals for language proficiency, strong foundations, community engagement, and collaborative success. The ELL Department also works with the families and communities of ELL students to ensure that students and their families are offered opportunities to learn, grow, and participate inside and outside of school. Many of the ELL services for students and families extend into academic, cultural, and community areas.   

The Saint Paul Public Schools English Language Learner & Dual Language Department provides services to our students through: The ELL Programs, Dual Language Immersion Programs, and Language and Culture Enrichment Programs.

The ELL Programs: The ELL Department offers content-based ELL instructional programs, which strive to promote students’ English language proficiency and mastery of academic content at the same time by integrating subject areas with language objectives. ELL students acquire English through participation in age-appropriate instruction that is aligned to national, state, and district content standards as well as English language proficiency standards. The primary objective of teaching language through content is to make grade-level standards and curriculum accessible to ELL students at all levels. English language acquisition and proficiency is the goal of all of the ELL services. The ELL services available include:

• Language Academy: Students in grades 1-12 who are new to the country and need intensive English language development have the option of participating in the Language Academy Program. Students in this program work towards the same grade-level content standards as their native English-speaking peers.
• ELD in the Content Areas: Students received needs-based ELL services within the classroom environment. English Language Development instruction is tightly linked to the grade-level content standards as well as to the English language standards.
• ESL Leveled Courses in Grades 7-12: Students participate in courses with embedded language development and receive appropriate levels of support to access content knowledge.

The Dual Language Immersion Programs: The ELL Department provides focused guidance on the Dual Language Immersion Programs within the schools. The goal of all dual language immersion programs is to develop students who are bilingual, biliterate, and culturally proficient with high levels of academic achievement. The types of dual language immersion programs within Saint Paul Public Schools include one-way foreign language immersion and two-way language immersion. Schools and languages are listed as follows:

One-way Immersion: 

• Adams Spanish Immersion Elementary (Spanish)
• Benjamin E. Mays International Elementary (Mandarin)
• L’Etoile du Nord French Immersion Elementary (French)

• Bruce F. Vento Elementary (Spanish)
• Cherokee Heights West Side School of Excellence Elementary (Spanish)
• Jackson Elementary (Hmong)
• Phalen Lake Hmong Studies Elementary (Hmong)
• Paul and Sheila Wellstone Elementary (Spanish)
• Riverview West Side School of Excellence Elementary (Spanish)

• Highland Park Junior High (Spanish)
• Highland Park Senior High (Spanish)
• Ramsey Junior High (French)
• Central Senior High (French)

Language and Culture Enrichment Programs: The ELL Department strives to develop programs that will help students maintain their first language and retain their cultures as they integrate into the English-speaking culture. Many of the programs that aim towards preserving and promoting the languages and cultures of the students in Saint Paul Public Schools are also working towards the goal of increasing cultural and self awareness of all students, parents, and staff. Language and Culture Enrichment Programs provide a variety of services and learning opportunities for students, parents, staff, and the community. Services and learning opportunities are available through the following components:

• Hmong Enrichment Programs (HEP) provide educational opportunities for all students while preserving and promoting the Hmong language and culture through the Hmong Dual Language Program, Hmong Literacy and Culture, and Hmong Culture, Literacy, Art 'n' Dance (CLAnD).
• Latino Consent Decree (LCD) focuses on the education of Latino ELL students through bilingual content support, Spanish literacy instruction, and Latino culture.
• Somali Enrichment Programs provide Somali students with the opportunity to learn about their own language and culture as well as enhancing all students' knowledge and understanding of different cultures and ways of life through Somali Academic Language and Literacy (SALL).
• Karen Enrichment Programs increase the opportunities for Karen students to continue learning their language, literacy, and culture as well as expand the awareness and understanding of all students about Karen language and culture.

More information about the programs and services offered through the ELL Department can be obtained by contacting the ELL Department at (651) 767-8320 or through email at ELL.info@spps.org.