To: Governor Gavin Newsom

Funding ESL Classes

Free up funding for classes in English as a Second Language, so that immigrants have a path to follow to obtain citizenship.

Why is this important?

If a prerequisite for obtaining citizenship is being able to speak English, there needs to be financial support from public education funds. I teach English as a second language in California, and the county claims they can afford to pay teachers for only 2 1/2 hours a week instruction. The free classes for immigrants who are highly motivated, are inadequate. Surely we can help them more effectively.