Immigrant Adult Literacy Report

Asian American Justice Center Releases Groundbreaking Report on Adult Literacy Education in Immigrant Communities
Washington, D.C. – With interest in the pressing need to improve programs for English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOLs) at an all-time high, the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) today released a comprehensive report detailing strategic investments and approaches that can transform this critical educational arena.

“A number of demographic, economic and social factors have converged to dramatically underscore the need for both the private and public sector to increase research and support for the full range of effective ESOL programs,” said AAJC President and Executive Director Karen K. Narasaki. “The inability to speak English fluently is a powerful barrier to attaining jobs that pay a living wage, economic advancement, citizenship and the opportunity to vote. It is imperative that we invest in improving the quality and quantity of delivery of such programs.”

The report, Adult Literacy Education in Immigrant Communities: Identifying Policy and Program Priorities for Helping Newcomers Learn English, was published with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and draws heavily on testimony from more than 50 ESOL practitioners and experts from immigrant, adult literacy, education, labor, business, government and faith-based groups.

Irene Lee, senior associate at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, noted that increased immigration, poorly funded ESOL programs, and a severe lack of understanding of their necessity by lawmakers and the public at large are at the heart of the problem.

“Stronger networks for information sharing are needed to build supportive communities that strengthen families – and effective communications strategies supporting ESOL programs and the development of ESOL programs are a key to implementing this effort,” she said. “We also need to develop private sector support for ESOL programs.”

Cecilia Muñoz, vice president of the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation at the National Council of La Raza, which contributed to the study, noted that 4 million American citizens stand to benefit from ESOL programs. “Interestingly, a significant portion of this population consists of native-born Americans – including Puerto Ricans, Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, Alaska Natives and Native Americans.”

Adult Literacy Education in Immigrant Communities: Identifying Policy and Program Priorities for Helping Newcomers Learn English can be downloaded at http://www.advancingequality.org/files/AAJC_Adult_Literacy_Education_report.pdf or printed copies of the report can be ordered by contacting Pang Houa Moua at (202) 296-2300 ext. 122 or pmoua@advancingequality.org.

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The Asian American Justice Center, formerly known as NAPALC, is a national organization dedicated to defending and advancing the civil and human rights of Asian Americans. It works closely with three affiliates – the Asian American Institute of Chicago, the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco, and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in Los Angeles – and over 100 community partners in 47 cities and 24 states in the country.

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