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Bilingual Multicultural Education

Bilingual EducationMilwaukee Public Schools offers diverse learning opportunities that are available for all multilingual and multicultural learners. The cultural and linguistic diversity of the students we serve is one of our greatest assets. We strive to create quality learning environments that respect, reflect, and strengthen diversity.

Mission: The mission of the Department of Bilingual Multicultural Education is to provide equitable access to quality multilingual and multicultural programming in Milwaukee Public Schools.

Vision: MPS students graduate with strong cultural and linguistic identities, leveraging these assets to navigate college, career, and life as global citizens in an inclusive society. 

Benefits of Multilingualism

The Office of English Language Acquisition, U.S. Department of Education, offers a brief description of the cognitive, educational, economic, and sociocultural benefits of multilingualism.

Bilingual Dual Language Program

The Bilingual Dual Language Program (one-way and two-way) in Milwaukee Public Schools prepares students to become literate in English and Spanish through the use of biliteracy practices that promote and facilitate the development of two languages.

District Multilingual Multicultural Advisory Committee/Comité Multilingüe Multicultural del Distrito

The purpose of this committee is to provide parents and educators of English learner students with the opportunity to advise the Milwaukee Board of School Directors of their views related to English learner programs as well as to ensure that English learner programming is planned, operated, and evaluated with their involvement and consultation.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Program

English as a Second Language is a program of techniques, methodology, and special curriculum designed to teach English learner students communication skills in listening, reading, and viewing as well as speaking, writing, and representing. Instruction is in English and may include strategic connections to students' native language. The ESL program orients students to the social and cultural aspects of learning in a school setting.

On the English as a Second Language page are MPS Quick Reference Guides that provide information about cultures of various countries to support our incoming refugee students.

First Nations Studies

The purpose of the First Nations Studies program is to meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of our First Nations students in MPS so that these students can achieve at the same challenging state standards as all students.

International Newcomer Center—Middle School

The newcomer program is specifically designed for English learners (ELs) who have recently arrived in the United States, are in grades 6–8, and have limited or interrupted formal schooling. It is a two-year program in which students receive high support in academics, language development, social and emotional learning, and preparation for the general education classroom. The Lau Compliance Center staff interviews parents and students to learn about students' academic and language background. If a student qualifies for the program, Lau staff will inform the family about the International Newcomer Center—Middle School and answer their questions. Students are enrolled in the International Newcomer Center—Middle School with parent permission.

Language Immersion

Immersion school programs offer core content taught in the foreign language during all or part of the day. Students become functionally proficient, master subject content taught in the new language, and acquire an understanding of and appreciation for other cultures.

Newcomer Center—High School

The newcomer program is specifically designed for English learners (ELs) who have recently arrived in the United States, are of high school age, and have limited or interrupted formal schooling. It is a one-year program in which students receive high support in academics, language development, social and emotional learning, and preparation for the general education classroom. The Lau Compliance Center staff interviews parents and students to learn about students' academic and language background. If a student qualifies for the program, Lau staff will inform the family about the Newcomer Center—High School and answer their questions. Students are enrolled in the Newcomer Center—High School with parent permission.

World Languages Program

The World Languages Program prepares all students to be multilingual, culturally competent, respectful, and responsible citizens of an interconnected, more peaceful world.

Services

Lau Compliance Center: Staff members at the Lau Compliance Center enroll children who speak any home language other than English and screen students for ESL services.

Quick View

We provide the following services and support:

  • World languages classes in every high school
  • 4 language immersion schools (French, German, Italian, Spanish)
  • More than 12,000 English learner students speaking 90 distinct languages as of 2025
  • 21 schools with bilingual dual language and ESL programming
  • 27 schools with ESL stand-alone programming
  • The District Multilingual Multicultural Advisory Committee, which serves in an advisory capacity to Milwaukee Public Schools on language acquisition and culturally relevant programs

Contacts

Curriculum Specialists:


Bilingual Dual Language Program

Dra. Lucía Torres
Phone: 414-475-8093
Email: torresli@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

English as a Second Language Program

Sarah Borges
Phone: 414-475-8732
Email: borgess@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

World Languages/Language Immersion Program

Solmaris González Chico
Phone: 414-777-7827
Email: gonzals1@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
 

Supervisor, First Nations Studies:

Richanda E. Kaquatosh
Phone: 414-902-7313
Email: kaquatre@milwaukee.k12.wi.us


Lau Compliance Center:

Abigail Martínez, Planning Assistant
Phone:  414-475-8525
Fax: 414-475-8430
Email: martinay@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
 

Director, Department of Bilingual Multicultural Education:

Dra. Rocío Trejo
Phone: 414-475-8565
Email: trejor@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

© Milwaukee Public Schools 2025
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