Meeting the Need? English Language Learners and Immigrant Adult Learners in the Illinois Adult Education System

Meeting the Need? English Language Learners and Immigrant Adult Learners in the Illinois Adult Education System (click for full report)

This report seeks to understand the special education needs of adult English language learners (ELLs) in the state of Illinois.

More than half of adult ELLs and other immigrant adult learners live in the Chicago suburbs compared to 28% of native-born adult learners. About a third of adult immigrant learners have six or fewer years of formal education compared to 10% of the native-born population.

The report notes that English language ability seems to be correlated with higher household income levels and lower poverty levels. The report urges greater state investment in immigrant adult education to increase workforce productivity and competitiveness. Other recommendations include: more attention to the educational needs of lower-level immigrant learners, adjustments in funding streams to reflect the growing concentration of immigrants in the Chicago suburbs, greater integration of the workforce training and adult education systems, and greater utilization of community-based organizations as educational providers because of their "cultural competency," physical presence in immigrant communities, and ability to provide supportive services for learners such as child care. (Summary by Nick Montalto)

Meeting the Need? English Language Learners and Immigrant Adult Learners in the Illinois Adult Education System (click for full report)