Forum for Excellence

Illuminating Progress - December 12, 2025 10 AM - 11 AM CST
- Jay Brooks and Mitchell Gaffney from ICCB
- This session will focus on data resources available to examine adult education enrollment and progress across Illinois as well as look at trends across WIOA core partners. The session will highlight an interactive dashboard that helps explore enrollment with demographic data in adult education and review the state’s progress in reaching WIOA targets.
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Doubling Retention in Distance Learning for NRS 1 & 2 ELLs - December 12, 2025 1 PM - 2 PM CST
- Presented by: Sarah Taylor and Liz Clinton, World Relief Chicago
- Running online English classes is no longer optional, it’s essential for equitable access and student safety. Many adult ELLs cannot attend in-person classes due to transportation, shiftwork, safety, and childcare, yet online learning brings its own challenges: device access, reliable Wi-Fi, and digital literacy. To make remote instruction truly effective, programs must think holistically, integrating support for technology use and scaffolding digital skills alongside language instruction. This comprehensive and proven approach enables low-NRS-level learners to succeed, improves overall retention, and equips immigrant communities with the tools they need for economic stability and full participation in society in an achievable setting.
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