Sept. 28, 2009
– College of DuPage recently received a $1,366,549 grant from the Illinois Community College Board that will improve opportunities for adults who aspire to earn their GED, develop basic reading and math skills, or learn English as a Second Language.
The Adult Education and ESL Program at College of DuPage is the largest literacy provider in District 502, with approximately 7,350 students at 31 district locations served this year. The seven instructional areas funded by this grant include Adult ESL, ESL Family Literacy – Adult Basic Education/Reading, English, Math, GED Preparation in English and Spanish, Citizenship, and ESL for Citizenship.
“The index of need for literacy services in District 502 is among the highest in Illinois,” said Michael Perez, C.O.D. dean of Continuing Education/Extended Learning. “The FY10 program plan is expected to provide 16,373 units of instruction and 17,337 support service contacts such as advising and counseling, assessment and testing, child care, reading and writing assistance, tutoring, and the integration of assistive and adaptive equipment.”
This high level of funding is based on the number of students served, as well as the College’s demonstration of exemplary performance outcomes and improvements, Perez said.
“Examples of FY09 achievements include the implementation of a stand-alone online GED class, the integration of Lexia Reading into all Adult Basic Education reading classes, and the provision of an intervention software program that supports reading development,” Perez said.
Nine community partnerships are maintained through this grant, which include Indian Prairie School District 204 (Naperville); Marquardt School District 15 (Glendale Heights); School District 45 (Villa Park); Elementary School District 33 (West Chicago); People’s Resource Center (Wheaton); People’s Resource Center Southeast (Westmont); the Villa Park and West Chicago public libraries, and the Woodridge Community Pantry.