PASI

PASI advocates for the Spanish Immersion and two-way Immersion programs in the Sioux Falls Public Schools. The primary focus is on interns who enhance the language and cultural experience in the classrooms and in the community. There are grants for teacher development and resources for the classrooms and libraries available funded by fundraising throughout the year.

There is 1 Spanish Immersion Elementary School, 2 Two-way Immersion Elementary Schools, 3 Middle Schools, and 1 High School that are within the Spanish Immersion program.

The Spanish Immersion program allows English-proficient students to become bilingual and bi-literate in Spanish. Students attending the immersion program receive all classroom instruction in Spanish beginning in kindergarten. Through exposure to and practice with the language, students gain understanding and develop language proficiency. English language arts are introduced beginning in 3rd - 5th grade.

The goal of Spanish Two-Way Immersion is full bilingualism and biliteracy in both Spanish and English for English and Spanish-speaking children. Two-Way Immersion is a distinctive form of immersion education in which balanced numbers of native English and Spanish speakers learn together to read, write, speak and listen in both languages.