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Summary

English for Advancement (EfA), a program offered by Jewish Vocational Service in Boston, promoted the economic mobility of limited English speakers by providing English instruction and workforce development services.

EfA provided vocational English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), including lessons focused on answering job interview questions, communicating in the workplace, and finding a job. EfA participants attended classes for 2 to 12 months, depending on their skill and education level. About 24 months after the program’s start, evaluators followed up with participants to assess participants’ employment and earnings. To be eligible for the program, individuals needed work authorization documents, availability to attend EfA’s classes, a Social Security card, and the desire to obtain a job. Jewish Vocational Service recruited from several cities in Massachusetts. The study was conducted as part of the Massachusetts Pathways to Economic Advancement evaluation study, and it was one of the first programs to focus exclusively on workforce development in English-as-a-second-language learners.

28287-Study of English for
Populations and employment barriers: At least a high school diploma or equivalent, Adults (age 25+), English learners, Immigrants

Implementation at a glance

Primary service
Integrated education and training
Program services
Employment coaching, Integrated education and training, Job development, Job placement, Job readiness, Job search assistance, Post-employment participant follow-up
Review services terms
Setting(s)
Tested in multiple settings
Year evaluation began
2016
Implementing organization(s)Jewish Vocational Service

Effectiveness rating and effect by outcome domain

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Outcome domain Term Effectiveness rating Effect in 2024 dollars and percentages Effect in standard deviations Sample size
Increase earnings Short-term Little evidence to assess support favorable $1,604 per year 0.044 790
Long-term Supported favorable $4,556 per year 0.125 790
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Increase employment Short-term Supported favorable 6% (in percentage points) 0.139 790
Long-term Supported favorable 6% (in percentage points) 0.145 790
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Decrease benefit receipt Short-term Cannot assess support
Long-term Cannot assess support
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Increase education and training All measurement periods Cannot assess support

Effectiveness ratings

  • Well- supported
  • Supported
  • Mixed support
  • Not supported
  • Insufficient evidence
  • Cannot assess support

Studies of this program

Study quality rating Study counts per rating
High High 1
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Program cost

No cost information available.

Cost results

Estimate (in 2024 dollars) Quality of cost analysis that produced the estimate
Total program cost, per participant $6,027
Interpret cost findings with caution

Cost information

How much did the program cost per participant? 

The average total program cost per participant was $6,027 in 2024 dollars. This figure is based on cost information for this program reported in one cost study reviewed by Pathways to Work (for details, see the FAQ). This study received a rating of Interpret cost findings with caution for the cost analysis.

Cost information is not directly comparable across programs due to differences in the categories of costs reported and program length. Cost information is not an official price tag or guarantee.

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Implementation details

The information contained here reflects how the program was implemented at the time of the evaluation.

Local context

Characteristics of research participants
Black or African American
13%
White, not Hispanic
6%
Asian
6%
Unknown, not reported, or other
6%
Hispanic or Latino of any race
69%

The race and ethnicity categories may sum to more than 100 percent if the authors reported race and ethnicity separately; in these cases, we report the category White, rather than White, not Hispanic.

State(s) where implemented

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY Canada

Pathways to Work refers to programs by the names used in study reports or manuscripts. Some program names may use language that is not consistent with our style guide, preferences, or the terminology we use to describe populations.