Program Participation

The program participation data presented in Table XXII were arrived at by comparing available enrollment dates recorded in Success Stories Booklets with graduation, completion or departure dates reported in the Informal Interviews or Impact Surveys. Over two-thirds of the partic ipants completed their program objectives within a two year time span. All study members in the ABE and GED programs have now attained a GED or High School diploma with 73percent of respondents requiring one year or less to prepare for and accomplish this goal. Nancy, who required six years’ preparation in order to pass the GED test, had completed 9th grade in her native Hong- Kong before coming to the United States in 1992 and enrolling in a literacy program.

Table XXII

Duration of ABLE Participation
From To Total % Basic Literacy ESL ABE GED/ Family*
(in years) (in years) No. Total Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female
0 0.5 13 23.7%           3 2 8
0.6 1.0 11 20.0%       2   4 1 4
1.1 2.0 13 23.7% 2 3 3     2 1 2
2.1 3.0 4 7.2% 1 1       1   1
3.1 4.0 3 5.5% 3              
4.1 5.0 3 5.5% 2 1            
5.1 6.0 4 7.2% 1 2           1
6.1 7.0 1 1.8%   1            
7.1 8.0                    
8.1 9.0 1 1.8% 1              
9.1 10.0 1 1.8% 1              
10.1 11.0 1 1.8%       1        
TOTAL 55 100% 11 8 3 3   10 4 16
Unreported 15 21% 1 0 0 1 1 2 1 9

*The two participants enrolled in family literacy classes studied for and achieved their GED.

The majority of ESL learners also accomplished their goals within a two year period. Five of seven ESL participants received their GED diploma either during or after program completion. Zachary, who took two years to study for the TOEFEL test, passed it with flying colors and is now a practicing internist and medical school teacher. As of March 2001, 11 years after starting her ESL program, Vu-Lin still attends evening classes and is only two tests away from passing the GED. Basic literacy students hold the record for participation.

With only one study member unreported, 74 percent of all basic literacy students continued to participate in tutoring or classes from two-and-one-half to10 years after enrollment. This fact alone says a great deal about participants’ persistence and the quality of instruction and personal involvement provided by tutors and teachers.

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