English Language Learning

Adult English Language Instruction in the United States: Determining Need and Investing Wisely
Adult English Language Instruction in the United States provides census-based estimates on the number, educational attainment, and English skills of adults who are lawful permanent residents (LPRs) or unauthorized immigrants. The report translates these numbers into estimates of the hours of instruction these immigrants will need to achieve the English skills necessary for civic integration and, for youth age 17 to 24, the English skills necessary for postsecondary study. The report includes both national- and state-level estimates of instructional needs and the costs associated with meeting them; the analysis demonstrates the extent of disconnect between current need and available services. The Migration Policy Institute recommends ways in which our nation could increase funding for English language and literacy instruction and calls for system reforms.

The ESL Logjam: Waiting Times for Adult ESL Classes and the Impact on English Learners
From the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, The ESL Logjam examines the seriousness of the “backlog” of adult ESL learners waiting to enroll in ESL classes. It presents findings from an in-depth survey of 184 ESL providers from twenty-two cities in sixteen states.