English Learners in Wisconsin

Program Overview

Wisconsin's English Learner programs assist school districts in serving students who are English learners (ELs) to become proficient in academic English to better prepare them for college and career.

In the 2024 school year, Wisconsin served nearly 55,000 EL students. There are over 140 identified languages spoken by Wisconsin students, Spanish being the largest group, and Hmong the second. 

Click here for more information on the Wisconsin English Learner Program 

Assessment of ELs

Federal and state laws require that students identified as English Learners (ELs) be assessed annually to determine their level of English language proficiency (ELP) and ensure that they are progressing in achieving full English proficiency. 

Click here for more information on the assessment of English Learners