HomeMy WebLinkAboutESL Program update with Kirkwood TemplateBridging Educational Opportunities and
Employment Skills for Immigrants, Refugees
and English Language Learners
•Unemployment rates continue to decline within the state and region. May 2019, 2.3%
•Businesses express difficulty in filling positions.
•Immigrant/Refugee and racial/ethnic populations are increasing.
•KCC has a high demand for English language learner classes (ESL classes), at maximum capacity
for space and budget.
•Many ELL students are working at meat packing plants like Tyson, IBP and Swift traveling out of the
region for work or are underemployed due to difficulty speaking English.
•The majority of those in Kirkwood classes who are not working, want to work.
This creates an opportunity for businesses to look creatively at how they
fill openings, such as Earn & Learn models targeting English language
learners, immigrants and refugees.
Opportunity Johnson/Washington Counties
Community Partnerships
•KCC’s ESL classes provide an opportunity workforce pipeline for business
needs. Student are building basic workplace skills, and can easily pathway into
Earn and Learn models.
•Johnson County Community Foundation, United Way of Johnson & Washington
Counties, Iowa City Community School Districts, Johnson County Social
Services, IC Compassion and the Iowa City Refugee Alliance have
contributed to discussions related to expanding services, classes and
workforce programming for the immigrant and refugee population.
•Partners are supportive of plans to expand services to this population.
ESL Program Mission
Help students successfully navigate
COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT POST
SECONDARY
TRAINING
•Student Services
•Demographics
•Program Needs
•Plan for Expansion
AGENDA
Student
Services
Enrolled Students 2018-2019
Iowa City 192
Cedar Rapids 160
Coralville 95
Washington 18
Total:
24 classes
465 students
ESL Class Overview
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Earn & Learn Overview
•Earn & Learn models combine English language classes and on-the-job
training.
•KCC develops contextualized English language classes to prepare workers to
enter into a career at a local business.
•The classes also include American workplace culture training, and can assess
additional supports such as transportation, childcare, etc. to assist with
employee retention.
•Workers complete English classes along with on-the-job training to build up
English and occupational skills at the same time.
Earn & Learn -Business Commitment
Business Commitment -Key to success
1)Hire workers from Day 1 as full-time, regular employees with same benefits
as other new hires.
2)Pay workers for both classroom and on-the-job training.
3)Develop a strong onboarding program to support workers with new hire
paperwork and decisions, including use of interpreters.
4)Integrate American workplace culture training for these new workers, to help
them understand the culture of work in America (social cues, metrics,
timelines, etc.).
5)Provide cultural and awareness training for incumbent workers, helping them
understand this new population.
Student Retention Rate
Between 12 hours and 40 hours of instruction
2019:
796 students out of 872 = 91%
Demographics
Educational Background
Top Majors for ESL Students Transferring to Credit
Number of Students Major
324 Liberal Arts –AA
34 Nursing –AAS
26 Liberal Arts –AS
20 Business Administration: Management -AAS
18 Network and System Administration –AAS
13 Liberal Arts –Transfer –Non-Degree
12 Industrial Maintenance Technology –AAS
11 Business Administration: Accounting –AAS
8 Human Resources Learning and Development
6 Electronics Engineering Technology –AAS
6 Medical Assisting –AAS
6 Pharmacy Technician -Diploma
Personal
Stories
Shawn will collect and add in with a picture 1-2
stories.
Program
Needs
1)Growing population of English Language Learners
Iowa City Schools
Clear Creek Amana Schools
Districtwide ELL growth
June 2015 -27
June 2016 -32
June 2017 -39
December 2017-49
*A new EL student every 5.5 weeks.
US Census Bureau
Program
Needs2) Our current classes are at full capacity.
Program
Needs
3) 44% of individuals trying to register for
ESL classes do not get placed in the
program because there is no space.
Phone Calls
Were not
placed
May 63 27
June 36 26
July 106 52
Aug 118 48
Sep 74 56
Oct 79 49
Nov 18 16
Dec 61 10
Jan 45 5
Feb 62 2
Mar 35 16
697 307
Plan for
Expansion
Summary of Need and Current Financial Resources
•ESL programs are at capacity.
•KCC continues to leverage KCC funds to support English language learner
programming in addition to the state and federal funds.
•Opportunity population is available to meet employer needs with innovative
programs such as Earn & Learn.
•KCC and state/federal resources available to support ESL students annually:
•State and Federal: $350,371
•KCC Contribution: $180,877
•GAP of $150,000 annually to meet student needs, eliminate waitlists, and
prepare students for business openings.
Meeting Community Needs
$150,000 investment per year for the next 5 years
•Additional instruction to serve 150 more students per year.
•Increase Earn and Learn partnerships with Johnson County employers.
•Build pathways into successful employment.
•KCC will grow and develop new partnerships with community-based
organizations to meet basic needs of ESL learners supporting a system of
services in the county.
•Need a 5-year commitment to make an impact on this population and grow
the workforce pipeline.
The ASK –Support for the Opportunity Workforce Pipeline
$150,000 investment per year for the next 5 years
•Kirkwood Pledges $75,000 per year
•$50,000 ESL Supplement Funding 2019 Legislation
•$25,000 General Fund
•Partnership Contributions to match or go beyond the committed
$75,000 per year
•100% of the funds will be committed to the Iowa City/Coralville
metro area and service providers
Programming and services can begin Fall 2019
Help us construct this bridge
for our community!