English-as-an-additional-language Fact Sheet

Students in Winnipeg School Division (WSD) come from many backgrounds. According to  Statistics Canada 2016 Census, 30 percent of the population living within the boundaries of WSD identified themselves as immigrants with 9 percent being new immigrants (arriving in the past five years). In 2021, 17 percent of the official WSD September student enrolment have been new immigrants.

Diversity of languages

• No English was spoken in the homes of 2,016 students or 7.4 per cent of the total student population.
• English and another language were spoken in homes of 9,359 students or 34.3 percent of total student population.
• WSD schools use community support workers, Intercultural Support Workers and interpreters to communicate with families in their home language.

English-as-an-additional-language (EAL) students: Winnipeg School Division

• WSD has identified 4,541 students or 18 percent of the total student population as requiring EAL supports.
• WSD schools provide appropriate programming to Indigenous students identified as requiring EAL supports.
• WSD schools offer respectful and caring environments for all families. Parents/guardians and students are offered an orientation, information about the school community, and opportunities to learn about Canadian culture.
• WSD establishes both reception and initial assessment protocols to welcome families and help program for the student's English language needs. School staff track students' English language progress to help meet academic needs.
• In addition to Provincial Funding, WSD allocates resources to provide educational assistants (EAs), seven Literacy, Academics and Language Centers (LAL), Intercultural Support Workers, community support workers (who provide support to students and their families), and materials and supplies.
• About 7000 EAL students identify in newcomer supports.
• With some financial support from the province's Intensive Newcomer Support Grant, the WSD Board of Trustees approved the establishment of seven EAL Literacy Transition Centres specifically for students with disrupted schooling or limited English language literacy skills at the junior and senior high levels.

Newcomer Support

• The basic philosophy for Nursery to Grade 8 is to integrate EAL students into regular classes with additional supports provided by a resource teacher or EAL teacher.
• WSD offers separate courses/programs for senior high students to prepare them for high school academic courses. Career and post-secondary education planning are integrated into high school programming.
• WSD operates an Adult EAL program on behalf of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to enhance English language skills of newcomer adults within WSD boundaries. This program uses Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) system to teach English to adults.