Challenge 3 (Cont.): Jobs require functional English-language skills.
Click on the chart for a high-resolution view.
To arrive even at workforce-training readiness, some adult learners will have to traverse a considerable distance from Beginning ESL through many levels of Adult Education.
The graph above shows the distribution of the 5,000-plus adult learners who enrolled in RI's Adult Education programs in 2012-13. Most were working on English proficiency or basic academic skills through the 8th-grade level. These learners were establishing a foundation that would allow them to qualify for workforce-training programs and/or a high school equivalency certificate, like the GED.
The Adult Education system offers an excellent curriculum to develop English-language skills and academic skills at all levels, from pre-K through 12th grade.
Data Source: RI Department of Education, CALIS database.
