My name is Terri Stone and I have been an ESOL/ABE Director of a smaller,
semi-rural program in Mass. for the past 9 years.  Two issues that continue to
arise for our students as well as for our more at-risk community members are
the issues of childcare and transportation.  We have opted from the very
beginning of our program to offer both on-site, free childcare and free
transportation from our community and one abutting community.  We hope to
expand this transportation option to two additional communitites in FY '07. 
These services are constantly used and our students report regularly that
without these services they would have never been able to accomplish their
goal of coming to class on a regular basis.  I know that these options are not
reasonable in some locations, but do believe that a broader acceptance in our
field of actually removing these barriers for students would greatly enhance
program access to students who otherwise could not attend classes as well as
provide an often closed pathway for students who truly need and want these
services.