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.
Summary
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.
Effectiveness rating and effect by outcome domain
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| Outcome domain | Term | Effectiveness rating | Effect in 2018 dollars and percentages | Effect in standard deviations | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increase earnings | Short-term | 
|
$920 per year
|
0.044 | 790 |
| Long-term | 
|
$2,615 per year
|
0.125 | 790 | |
| Very long-term |  |
||||
| Increase employment | Short-term |
|
6% (in percentage points)
|
0.139 | 790 |
| Long-term |
|
6% (in percentage points)
|
0.145 | 790 | |
| Very long-term | |
||||
| Decrease benefit receipt | Short-term | |
|||
| Long-term | |
||||
| Very long-term | |
||||
| Increase education and training | All measurement periods | |
Effectiveness rating key:
-
Well-supported
-
Supported
-
Not supported
-
Mixed support
-
Insufficient evidence
-
No evidence
Studies of this intervention
| Study quality rating | Study counts per rating |
|---|---|
 High
|
1 |
Implementation details
Cost information
The average cost per participant was $5,027 in 2018 dollars.
This figure is based on cost information reported by authors of the study or studies the Pathways Clearinghouse reviewed for this intervention. The Pathways Clearinghouse converted that information to a single amount expressed in 2018 dollars; for details, see the FAQ. Where there are multiple studies of an intervention rated high or moderate quality, the Pathways Clearinghouse computed the average of costs reported across those studies.
Cost information is not directly comparable across interventions due to differences in the categories of costs reported and the amount of time interventions lasted. Cost information is not an official price tag or guarantee.
State(s) where implemented
The Pathways Clearinghouse refers to interventions by the names used in study reports or manuscripts. Some intervention names may use language that is not consistent with our style guide, preferences, or the terminology we use to describe populations.