Recommendations
* Specifically for Adult Education:
- Given the challenge faced by adults with minimal academic skills to pass tests to enter workforce training programs, and given the Adult Education system’s success at moving adults toward GED attainment, provide funding sufficient to eliminate the wait list of adults who have already signaled their readiness to take on the challenges of improving their skills.
- Build upon Rhode Island’s existing services to immigrants by modelling other cities, like Pittsburgh, who welcome immigrants and help them realize their entrepreneurial potential by increasing ESL classes, translating foreign transcripts/degrees, and combining ESL with specific job training classes.
* For the K-12, adult, and higher-education systems:
- To ensure that the learning climate is not making circumstances worse for students, expand support services in the state’s schools and colleges. Partner with social services and outside resources to help students overcome social, emotional and economic obstacles to persisting in school.
Published October 9, 2015
