California's Commitment to Adult English Learners: Caught Between Funding and Need

75% of adults enrolled in ESL programs in the state of California participate in these programs through adult schools. Citing a $15.7 million gap between money spent by adult schools on ESL programs and money awarded to these schools by the state of California, this article explores two choices faced by ESL providers: leave some seeking ESL programs without service and stay under the enrollment growth-cap linked to state funds or take in all individuals seeking to be enrolled in an ESL program, go over the cap, and pay the difference between allotted state funds and actual capital spent out of the school's own budget.