Charting a Course: Responding to the Industry-Related
Adult Basic Education Needs of the Texas Workforce
Handbook One: Planning and Implementation Tips
for Program Planners and Administrators

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Module Four: Defining and Agreeing Upon Mutual, Achievable Goals and Objectives

From the Field: A Sample Preliminary Agreement

Dear Mr. Doe:

During our telephone conversation last week, I was pleased to have the opportunity to discuss with you the possibility of offering English language instruction (ESL) for your employees. Our program has offered ESL classes for more than fifteen years. Expanding our services to the workplace is an opportunity to further meet the needs of adult learners.

In order to implement this initiative, we will conduct preliminary assessments of your employees and prepare instruction in response to their needs. Part of the preparation requires that we engage you and your employees in language task analysis activities that will enable us to identify specific educational needs. This process will require discussion with employee representatives as well as frontline supervisors working with English language learners. These activities will enable us to capture data about employees’ educational levels, work behavior, and performance on the job.

I would like to confirm my understanding of several points discussed during our conversation:

• Basic instructor compensation will be covered by our program. ABC Company will contribute an additional $10 per hour to help cover the costs of assessment, language task analysis, and preliminary instructional planning time.
• ABC will schedule release time for employees participating in the classes.
• Classes will meet twice a week for a minimum of 1.5 hours each. Duration of the classes will be 8 to 10 weeks.
• ABC will cover the cost of instructional materials and supplies to be selected by the program. Cost of materials is not expected to be more than $75 per participant.
• ABC will schedule time for the program administrator and instructor to meet with employees, frontline supervisors, and a management representative to discuss work-related educational needs.

Attached is an estimate of your shared costs for the services. I have calculated for a ten week session. Our program will be responsible for all other expenses.

If you have any questions regarding these figures, please feel free to contact me at 1-800-555-5555. In the meanwhile, I have begun the process of securing an instructor to deliver the classes, which I project can begin in approximately six weeks.

Sincerely,

Jane Doe