Case studies examined how two communities--Miami and Los Angeles--with large immigrant populations had responded to the educational challenge posed by adult immigrants. Each case study had three components: interviews with education policymakers and practitioners, community leaders, and others; limited survey of adult immigrant students in the system; and focus groups with the students. Differences between the cities affected demand for and delivery of educational services. The service- and trade-based economy of Miami provided a narrower range of employment opportunities. Miami experienced waves of wealthy and then poorer immigrants, whereas Los Angeles had a single mass of poor immigrants. In Miami, immigration issues assumed a high profile; far fewer California policymakers saw immigration as a salient concern. Both cities relied on existing institutions to provide job training and made attempts to modify the traditional focus of many programs to address the critical immigrant issue of limited English proficiency. In adult schools, elementary English as a Second Language was provided as an open-entry/open-exit program. California's community colleges had the same policy, whereas Florida's required a high school diploma. Adult immigrants suggested some program improvements: flexible programs, integrated language and vocational education, more practice in classes and more individual attention. Challenges facing the policy community were: (1) demographics and (2) rethinking of institutional goals and missions. (Contains 76 references.) (YLB)
Authors
- Authorizing Institution
- National Center for Research in Vocational Education, Berkeley, CA.
- Location
- ['California (Los Angeles)', 'Florida (Miami)']
- Peer Reviewed
- F
- Publication Type
- Reports - Research
- Published in
- United States of America
- Sponsor
- Office of Vocational and Adult Education (ED), Washington, DC.
Table of Contents
- Kimberly Ramsey Abby Robyn 4
- Vocational and Adult Education U.S. Department of Education. 5
- Integrating ESL and vocational education. Fundamental to this response is 12
- Local general background informants. Newspaper reporter for adult 23
- Governmentbusinesseducation partnership. Miami has an economic 32
- -20- 35
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- -49- 64
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- -62- 76
