[AAACE-NLA] Should ESL funds be separate from ABE/ASE?

[tsticht@znet.com]

Aaace-nla Colleagues: Here is a statement about comprehensive reforms for
ESL from the executive summary of a new ESL report from CAAL to which Gail
Spangenberg called attention recently. It calls for consideration of
pulling ESL out of the ESL/ABE/ASE line of education and instead funding a
separate line of ESL education. Is this a good idea? Tom Sticht

The CAAL (www.caal.org) report says,

"Targeted funding increases would make a major contribution to improving the
quality of adult ESL service. By themselves, however, these increases would
not be sufficient to reduce waiting lists or to take many innovative
strategies to scale. To accomplish these goals, a major increase in total
federal/state funding specifically for ESL is required. At present, total
national funding is on the order of $700 million per year. Doubling that
amount would be a reasonable initial goal.

Accomplishing this may well require a reconsideration of how adult education
ESL is positioned in the overall adult education system. At present, there
is no separate authorization or line item appropriation for ESL. Policy and
funding for this service are combined with policy and funding for ABE/ASE.
Yet, in most respects, ESL is a wholly different service from adult
education for native speakers of English. It serves a very different
population with very different needs and goals, and it employs almost
completely different instructional methods and tools. This study recommends
that policymakers and adult education leaders consider carefully whether it
is in the best interests of all aspects of adult education, including its
adult ESL strand, to sever the present policy and funding links. In many
respects, these links are artificial and may be counter-productive to
improving both ESL and ABE/ASE service."