Contact: Cesar Canizales
214-378-1859;
ccanizales@dcccd.edu
For immediate release — Jan. 19, 2016
(DALLAS) — The Dallas County Community College District has partnered with Parkland Health and Hospital System to provide GED and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to Parkland staff and contractors who speak little to no English and who lack high school diplomas.
The pilot program started on Jan. 19 and is offered to Parkland’s personnel who work in minimum-wage jobs because of their language and education limitations. Parkland estimates that about one-third of its employees and contractors could benefit from the courses.
Under the program, DCCCD provides instructional staff, classroom supplies, student coaching and advising, and registration through El Centro College. Parkland’s contributions include outreach, marketing, recruitment, classrooms, computers and Internet access. The organization also provides student coaching and advising.
Participants in the ESL program attend five eight-week modules for a total of 40 weeks of classes that include workplace literacy and distance learning; students will use Burlington English software.
GED students attend four eight-week modules for a total of 32 weeks. Classes include career exploration and planning, plus distance learning, using ACT KeyTrain software to reinforce reading, writing and basic math skills.
According to a report from JPMorgan Chase, an estimated 14.7 percent of Dallas-area residents age 16 to 64 speak little to no English, and almost a million adults lack a high school diploma or GED. This low level of English proficiency and education leads to higher poverty levels and prevents residents from qualifying for higher-paying jobs that are available in the area, including at large employers like Parkland.
For more information, call Gloria Smith, associate dean for workforce development at El Centro College, at 214-860-5725 or send an email to her at
GSmith@dcccd.edu.
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