California EL Civics

The English Literacy and Civics (EL Civics) is funded under The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA, 2014). The purpose of the EL Civics program is to support projects that demonstrate effective practices in providing and increasing access to English Literacy programs linked to civics education.

This funding is for "integrated English literacy and civics education services to immigrants and other limited English proficient populations." According to Congress, to effectively participate in education, work, and civic opportunities in this country, immigrants and other limited English proficient persons must not only master English, but be able to understand and navigate governmental, educational, workplace systems and key institutions, such as banking and health care. The California Department of Education (CDE) Adult Education Office has offered grant awards for EL Civics Education to promote the development of integrated programs that incorporate English Language and literacy instruction and civics education. The CDE has developed three program areas: Civic Participation, Citizenship Preparation, and Integrated EL Civics (IELCE).

Civic Participation: This program supports the design, creation, implementation and delivery of instructional activities that integrates civics education content with ESL instruction. This program connects literacy to the lives of learners and reflects their experiences as community members, parents and participants in the workforce. Through these programs, adults understand and deal with social issues through community research projects, collecting and analyzing information, and interpreting findings in ways that connect school-based learning with personal knowledge and community experience. This program is funded under Section 231 of WIOA.

Citizenship Preparation: This program uses ESL methodologies and citizenship preparation material to prepare learners to take and pass the USCIS (formerly INS) written and oral citizenship test. The program includes outreach services, skills assessment, curriculum development and instruction, professional development, naturalization preparation and assistance and program evaluation. This program is funded under Section 231 of WIOA.

Integrated EL Civics (IELCE): This program connects literacy to the lives of learners and reflects their experiences as community members and parents with an emphasis on participation in the workforce. It gives learners the opportunity to concurrently participate in literacy instruction, workforce preparation activities and workforce training. This program is funded under Section 243 of WIOA.

CASAS Program Specialists Contact Information
Do you have a question? Contact your CASAS Program Specialist for more information.

I really appreciate all the immediate assistance. Everyone in CASAS has been very helpful. For someone who is relatively new to El Civics, I would have not survived without the guidance of the CASAS experts.. ~ Joann Beshansky, Clovis Adult School, California