This memorandum discusses the need for civics and English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction as a result of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986. IRCA provides an opportunity for illegal aliens to obtain legal resident status by successfully completing a test of English proficiency and a test of U.S. history and government, or…

Literacy education for non-English-speaking adults is taxing the fragile adult education system in the United States. Despite federal limitations, a million immigrants enter the country each year. In contrast with the past, the non-English-speaking need more education to compete in more sophisticated workplaces. The nation's largest cities are…

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, which provides legalization to certain undocumented aliens and imposes sanctions on employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers, affects school districts in their capacity both as employers and as providers of services to children and families who may be seeking to legalize their immigration…