Starting in January 2025, WVS will offer a new semester-long course designed specifically for Newcomers—students in grades 6-12 who have recently arrived in the United States with an English Proficiency (EP) level of 1 or 2. This course focuses on building essential English language skills, with an emphasis on English Language Development (ELD) and survival English, enabling students to navigate daily life and school environments more confidently.

The course will be delivered asynchronously, allowing students to work at their own pace, while also including required synchronous sessions with a certified Wisconsin EL teacher. These live lessons will provide direct support and interactive learning opportunities to help students improve their speaking, listening, and comprehension skills. This course is ideal for newcomer learners who are ready to enhance their language abilities and integrate more effectively into their new academic and social communities.

Additional 1:1 live support sessions with EL-certified instructors can be added to the course if requested by the district as an Add-On Service.

Enrollment in this course must be done through a conversation with Special Populations Associate Director Larissa Zompolas.

Learner Support:

Learners enrolled in this course will participate in 7 required synchronous sessions with a certified Wisconsin EL teacher. These live sessions are a key component of the course, providing real-time interaction and personalized support. The sessions will be scheduled based on both student and teacher availability and can be arranged with a group of other EL students within the district to form a cohort. In addition to the live lessons, students will complete asynchronous coursework, allowing them to learn and practice at their own pace.

WVS Partner Pricing:

• Total cost of enrollment for Newcomer Course:
  • $570 (includes asynchronous course and 7 synchronous sessions)
  • Fee Breakdown:
    • $290 per student enrollment in asynchronous course
      Synchronous sessions:
      • 7 30-minute sessions with an EL-certified teacher (required)
      • $280 applies to one student enrollment. However, if a district enrolls multiple learners who will progress through the course at a similar pace, they can have these students attend the live sessions as a group and pay the fee only once.

Enrollment Windows for 2025-26:

• September 8, 2025 - September 22, 2025
• November 17, 2025 - December 1, 2025
• January 19, 2026 - February 2, 2026
• March 2, 2026 - March 16, 2026

We will be offering this second-level course starting with the 2025-26 school year! More information coming soon.