Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice’s Post

Many newly arrived families have a strong desire to learn English and are actively trying to, but the demand for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes far exceeds the supply and the waitlists for these classes are thousands long. This isn't just a humanitarian crisis as families struggle to meet their basic needs, but an enormous economic loss – data from a new report by the Eastern Bank Foundation, MassINC, and the UMass Amherst Donahue Institute illuminates how supporting immigrants and enabling them to fully participate in the workforce would yield billions in economic benefits. With the dramatic increase in limited English proficient families over the past two decades and an enduring shortage of ESOL services, we must expand language access at key state agencies to both match the scale of need and to ensure people can access essential services while on their English-learning journeys.

At least 20,000 people wait to learn English in Massachusetts

At least 20,000 people wait to learn English in Massachusetts

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