<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)">
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
span.emailstyle17
{mso-style-name:emailstyle17;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.emailstyle18
{mso-style-name:emailstyle18;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Hello List,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>As one of the “guests” in this discussion, I want to
apologize for being so late in weighing in. My ISP chose today to go down –
ALL DAY. But I’ll do my best now, and Jodi Crandall may join me a bit
later.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Let me start with the Andy’s contribution, because
transitions are a special interest of mine. I was delighted to learn of this
transition program, and it seems to be doing all the right things. Andy, I
think you could help all of us if you could tell us MORE. For example, how many
students are enrolled in the program each year (or semester), is it limited in
geographic area (and if so what area), do you have waiting lists or can you
serve everyone who applies, how many weeks (terms) does the program run, at
what level do students enter it (or what criteria are used to select them), can
you characterize the curriculum (e.g., how does it differ from standard life
skills or credit ESL, if at all), what are the “internships” (a fascinating
idea!) and support services, what percentage of students who enroll make
transitions to colleges, do you know how successful they are in college? Finally,
how much does it cost on a per-student basis? The cost issue is often a barrier
to establishing and maintaining good transition programs. In fact, could you
support the program without private foundation funding? Is that a barrier to
expanding it? Are there other barriers to expanding it? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>I know that’s asking a lot, but really good transition
programs are hard to find, and I think you would make a major contribution by
telling everyone more about yours.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Jodi and I agree that there is a great need for more VESL
programs. A problem seems to be that good ones are expensive to develop and
maintain. I’ve seen too many good VESL programs that were created with
grant funding die because they couldn’t be sustained by state funding,
tuition, and other “usual” means. Another problem seems to be the
need to target VESL programs on areas of real labor market need in a given
area. Finally, at least some VESL programs prepare students only for entry level
jobs (such as CNA) that pay very low wages. Often students who complete these
programs don’t remain in the vocation very long, or if they do they
become members of the “working poor” – which most of them
were to begin with. It seems that VESL programs that contain a “career
ladder” component have better results, both short term and long term, for
both the students and the workforce. I’m wondering whether these
observations correspond to the experiences of people viewing this discussion,
and if they do, what have any of you been able to do to meet these problems/challenges?
In fact, I’m wondering how many of you have VESL programs, and in what
fields. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Forrest Chisman<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Vice President<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Council for the Advancement of Adult Literacy <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> assessment-bounces@nifl.gov
[mailto:assessment-bounces@nifl.gov] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Tyskiewicz, Andy<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 05, 2008 8:57 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> The Assessment Discussion List<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Assessment 1107] Re: No Questions or Comments?!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:navy'>We have been funded for an ESL Transition to College program over
the next three years by a private foundation. There is a need in CT to streamline
services and to connect what our adult ed public school based programs do with
community colleges. We need to avoid duplication of services and move forward
with best practices. Our current program (Regional Service Center entity) is
more intensive in services 15-20 hours a week with internships and close
support services – this is a major factor in bridging the route to higher
ed and referrals to the CC ESL program. If students complete our program they
usually skip a level at the CC and avoid using some federal assistance for
non-credit courses, which is itself a controversial issue. The school districts
have free programs. PD is extensively provided in CT through a centralized
service. A next step here is further developing the linkages with the private
sector – more VESL on site – we have an increasing number of these
programs. Some funding is being provided through the Labor Dept. incumbent
worker funds and some by the companies. This is a real growth area for
services.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:navy'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b>From:</b> assessment-bounces@nifl.gov [mailto:assessment-bounces@nifl.gov] <b>On
Behalf Of </b>Marie Cora<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, February 04, 2008 6:51 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Assessment@nifl.gov<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Assessment 1103] No Questions or Comments?!</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Hello everyone,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I’m so surprised! No one has
anything to comment on regarding your program’s effectiveness at helping
ESL students advance?? I was very curious to know if subscribers
experience the same types of issues that Dr. Chisman and Dr. Crandall found in
their research: a lack of intensity of instruction/few protocols for
transitioning students/few opportunities for professional development.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>What are the issues in your program that you
feel inhibit the ESL student from advancing? What do you try to do about
that?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Please post your questions and comments now.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Thanks!</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Marie Cora</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Assessment Discussion List Moderator</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Marie Cora</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><a
href="mailto:marie.cora@hotspurpartners.com"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>marie.cora@hotspurpartners.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>NIFL Assessment Discussion List Moderator</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><a
href="http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/assessment">http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/assessment</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#666600'>The
documents accompanying this fax or e-mail transmission, including any
attachments, are for the sole use of the intended recipients and MAY contain
confidential health or other information that is legally privileged. The
authorized recipient of this information is prohibited from disclosing this
information to any other party unless required to do so by law or regulation
and is required to destroy the information after its stated need has been
fulfilled. If you are NOT the intended recipient you are hereby notified that
ANY disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken in reliance on the
contents of these documents is strictly prohibited. If you have received this
information via facsimile in error, please notify the sender immediately and
arrange for the return or destruction of these documents. If information is
received via e-mail and you are not the intended recipient, please contact the
sender by e-mail immediately and delete/destroy both the original and the reply
e-mail message. .</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>