ESL and ELL Success Stories
Agencies and programs across the country are using CASAS to establish comprehensive performance accountability systems, address core indicators of performance, integrate literacy and occupational skill instruction, and evaluate the effectiveness of ESL/ELL, EL Civics, and Citizenship programs.
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Soledad Adult School makes a yearly calendar of CASAS testing and makes sure that every student knows when CASAS testing will take place.
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How I-BEST Works:
Findings from a Field Study of Washington State’s Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program.
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ESL students at Folsom Cordova Adult School successfully incorporate their different cultures into the classroom experience. Students are able to share information about their culture while practicing English language and presentation skills.
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The "Give me 20" reading program encourages students to read at least 20 minutes a day. (Mt. San Antonio Community College District)
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Project Access is a structured program that provides a clear pathway for intermediate-level ESL students to earn an Early Childhood Education certification, and subsequently a job at local childcare/educational institutions. (Mt. Diablo Adult Education)
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Lompoc created a rigorous ESL curriculum integrating Common Core Standards, and restructured the school’s learning environment to provide clear, articulated and goal-oriented transitions from level to level. (Lompoc Unified Adult Education)
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The VESL Computer Lab Class provides Beginning to Advanced ESL students with a technology-based curriculum to build employability skills and improve English proficiency. (Freemont Adult School)
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The ABE/ESL Transition Course for intermediate high and advanced ESL students provides intensive instruction in public speaking, reading, vocabulary building, and composition. Students learn the skills they need to succeed in higher-level ABE courses, CTE programs, and in postsecondary education. (Fairfield Suisun)
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"The Money Management Competition" incorporates financial literacy education so that it was relevant to a student's life outside of the classroom. (The English Center)
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A recent report demonstrates that adult ESL learners enrolled in distance learning blended programs have significantly higher completion and persistence rates and reading gains than students participating in distance-only or classroom-only programs.
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This Citizenship Preparation Program is an incredibly successful program that provides comprehensive support and resources to students in order for them to obtain citizenship. (Sutter County Library)
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This program has implemented an effective and efficient ESL orientation process in which they are able to register, assess, and place students all within a two-and-a-half hour period. (San Leandro Adult School)
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This ABE Bridge and Transitions program gives ESL students a clear pathway from Adult Education classes into postsecondary education and the workforce. (San Leandro Adult School)
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This Distance Learning program is able to serve adult students that would not otherwise be able to access adult education opportunities. The program is a way for students with varying schedules and commitments to be able to get the counseling, resources, and instruction necessary to succeed academically. (San Juan USD Adult Education)
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Communities of Practice bring teachers together to engage in collective learning, to improve student learning outcomes. These professional development communities target specific needs within the agency, and come up with practical strategies to improve the agency as a whole. (Napa Valley Adult School)
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This noncredit ESL program has developed a portfolio-based system for tracking student learning outcomes, both within a level and as they advance through the agency’s 7-level program. (Mt. San Antonio CCD)
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This program has implemented a successful system to help students understand the importance of CASAS assessments. Students are more in control of their own education, and understand how to use assessment results to track their progress and shape their classroom experiences. (Asian-American Resource Center)
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The use of the I-BEST model in a VESL Personal Care Assistant class has successfully integrated vocational training and Vocational ESL instruction. This class creates a strong pathway for students to enter the health care field. (San Diego Community College District)
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The ESL Orientation/Success Class provides the necessary orientation, support and goal-setting required to help ESL students persist in adult education programs. (Sacramento City USD, Florin Technology Center)
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This program has integrated their EL Civics curriculum into a transition program to help students progress from noncredit adult education classes into credit community college and vocational classes. (MiraCosta College)