NALEO > News and Media Center > Press Release
For Immediate Release |
Contact: Rosalind Gold |
|---|---|
| October 6, 2006 | (213) 747-7606, ext. 120 email: rgold@naleo.org |
NEWCOMERS EAGER TO LEARN ENGLISH FACE
WAITING LINES ACROSS THE NATION
Study documents unmet need for English instruction, and challenges confronting ESL providers
Los Angeles, CA —In cities across the nation, adults interested in learning English as their second language (ESL) frequently face long waiting lists, crowded classrooms, and other obstacles, according to a study released today by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund. “The ESL Logjam: Waiting Times for Adult ESL Classes and the Impact on English Learners” reveals that while large numbers of newcomers have tremendous motivation to learn English, ESL providers lack the funding to meet the demand for instruction. The report also provides information about the educational needs of limited-English proficient adults, and the impact of the “ESL Logjam” on their ability to become full participants in U.S. society.
The NALEO Educational Fund’s study reports the results of a survey of 184 ESL providers from twenty-two cities in sixteen states. The survey examined the number and variety of programs offered, as wells as the demand for instruction and its availability. Among the findings in the study:
- More than half (57.4%) of the 176 ESL providers currently offering classes have waiting lists, which can be as long as three years. Several use lotteries in lieu of waiting lists, and one provider has even dropped waiting lists because of the extreme demand.
- Several providers avoid waiting lists by temporarily placing students at the wrong ESL level until a seat in the appropriate one opens, often increasing class size to more than 40 students per class.
- Growing demand and funding loss often result in decreased quality of instruction, from overwhelmed teachers, inadequate facilities and materials, to the inability to publicize services.
- Few classes are available to intermediate and advanced ESL students, preventing many adults from receiving the years of instruction it takes to make significant progress toward full proficiency in English.
Table 1
| Arizona (Phoenix) California (Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco) Colorado (Denver) Connecticut (New Haven) Florida (Miami) Hawaii (Honolulu) |
Illinois (Chicago) Massachusetts (Boston) Nevada (Las Vegas) New Jersey (Newark) New Mexico (Albuquerque) New York (New York City) Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) |
Rhode Island (Providence) Texas (Dallas, El Paso, Houston, San Antonio) Washington (Seattle) |
“Policymakers, civic and community leaders, social scientists – and especially English-language learners themselves – agree that knowledge of English is the gateway to full participation in U.S. society,” stated Rosalind Gold, Senior Director of Policy, Research and Advocacy of the NALEO Educational Fund. “But in many cases, the classroom doors are closed to these learners. We must work harder to ensure that adults of all language skill levels can easily find quality ESL programs that are well-suited for their needs.”
Ms. Gold concluded, “The demand for ESL rises every year, and overall, it is the fastest growing area of adult education. Our study demonstrates that lack of resources is one of the key reasons that service providers cannot meet this demand. Adult ESL programs must receive enough funding to increase the number of spaces available, publicize their programs, provide quality services that meet the diverse needs of English-language learners, and hold more classes on evenings and weekends. English-language proficiency enhances the economic and civic opportunities available to adults. If we ensure that there is adequate funding for ESL, we will be making a critical investment in the future
of our economy and our democracy.”
About the NALEO Educational Fund
The NALEO Educational Fund is the leading organization that empowers Latinos to participate fully in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.
The NALEO Educational Fund is a national non-profit, non-partisan organization whose constituency includes the more than 6,000 Latino elected and appointed officials nationwide.
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