A Multilingual Learner (ML) is any student enrolled in New Haven Public Schools, in grades K-12, whose dominant language is other than English, and whose proficiency in English is not sufficient to assure “equal educational opportunity” in the regular school program. In other words, a Multilingual Learner is a student who needs additional supports in order to understand and fully participate in classes conducted in English. 

At Wilbur Cross there are over 450 Multilingual Learners across all grades and Academies. Students come from all over the world and from a diverse range of backgrounds. We work with a range of immigrants and refugees and have a highly collaborative relationship with IRIS and C4D in order to support students and families.

New Haven Public Schools will determine if your child qualifies as a Multilingual Learner, per federal law, in order to provide them with the necessary additional supports. To support Multilingual Learners at Cross there are two programs. When students arrive at Wilbur Cross, school counselors will work to schedule students into appropriate programming, classes and cohorts. Newly arrived Mulitilingual Learners will work with a teacher and school counselor to do additional assessments to better place students in specific programming and classes within International Academy.