Abundant research demonstrates the benefits of learning English—for educational attainment, employment, earnings, homeownership, civic participation, and naturalization. Much more could be done to help immigrants to the United States acquire the skills they need, survival English as well as the higher levels of proficiency that allow a new American to excel. Improving the delivery of English-language learning will require change in many quarters—not necessarily an expanded role for government, but better, smarter policy and engagement by new players, including the private sector. This paper examines some exemplary existing programs to derive suggestions for better policy.
