English Language Civics Education

Your State Adult Education Office

The new census information (March 2000) shows the extent to which our adult ESL population is changing in the country. The immigrant population today sharply contrasts with the European dominated immigrant population from the last century. According to the current U.S. Census, this population is now composed of primarily Hispanics and Asians from around the world, with 51 percent being Hispanic and 25 percent being Asian. A total of 28.4 million immigrants made up 10.4 percent of the U.S. population in 2000, up from 7.9 percent from 10 years ago (1990).

The immigrant population today is also different in other characteristics than previous groups. They are likely to be poor and remain poor longer than immigrants in the past. Differences can also be found in these individuals' experiences, cultures, socio-economic status, and educational backgrounds. Another characteristic of these immigrants is that they are not concentrating their settlement in our cities. They are settling in the suburbs and small towns. They are also settling in more nontraditional areas of the country such as the Midwest and South.

As many of you are already experiencing, this population has important implications for our adult education programs - i.e. services we provide in order to meet the immigrants' needs to becoming contributing citizens of our country, recruitment of ESL instructors. There will continue to be a demand for more resources to expand our programs to meet their rising numbers. Another challenge for us in the years ahead!
Sheila Rosenberg, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Adult and Community Education