When bilingual education was dramatically altered in California, the question was, "How will second language learners be supported?"

Community Based English Tutoring is part of the answer. It is believed that adult second language learners want to support their children in learning English, but lack the tools. Therefore; money has been designated to offer more opportunities for adults to study English as second language.

The Los Angeles Unified School District, Division of Adult and Career Education, is successfully providing multiple levels of ESL instruction ranging from beginning to advanced. The open-entry, open exit system allows scheduling flexibility to adults with busy work and family schedules. But DACE does not provide childcare or transportation for regular adult education classes. Many prospective students wait to attend DACE classes until their youngest child attends school for full day.

While the concept of providing adult ESL classes on the elementary campus is not new, it has, in the past, been too costly for DACE to support small target populations (such as parent/tutors) while maintaining other programs in the District. The newly designated money makes possible to offer classes with babysitting where they are most needed - at the neighborhood elementary schools with high numbers of second language learners. The program goals are twofold: provide ESL instruction for parents and other adult learners who in turn pledge to tutor school children who are language learners.

For additional information regarding the CBET Program please contact: