Here’s a story problem for you:  A large, urban Midwestern school district absorbs an influx of kids from refugee camps around the world who aren’t even literate in their native tongues, let alone English. What’s the most engaging, effective and cost-efficient way to bring them up to speed? Yesterday at Samuelson Elementary one possible answer … Read more »

When Vinh Nguyen took over the district’s English Language Learner (ELL) program a decade ago it had already grown from about 275 students at its inception in 1975 to more than 2,500. But according to School Board Vice-Chair Dick Murphy – a long-time educator who has worked closely with Iowa’s refugee community - it was in … Read more »