View in EDS

Supporting Multilingual Learners in Community Colleges: Lessons from City Colleges of Chicago

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Supporting Multilingual Learners in Community Colleges: Lessons from City Colleges of Chicago
Language: English
Authors: Kylie A. Kenner, Julia Raufman, Benjamin M. James, Jorge Mahecha-Rodriguez, George C. Bunch, Columbia University, Community College Research Center (CCRC)
Source: Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University. 2026.
Availability: Community College Research Center. Available from: CCRC Publications. Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 West 120th Street Box 174, New York, NY 10027. Tel: 212-678-3091; Fax: 212-678-3699; e-mail: ccrc@columbia.edu; Web site: http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 40
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: Ascendium Education Group, Inc.
Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Contract Number: R305A190495
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Two Year Colleges
Descriptors: Multilingualism, English Learners, Community College Students, English (Second Language), Barriers, Educational Policy, Educational Practices, Student Diversity, Student Characteristics, Student Placement, Enrollment, Language Proficiency, College Credits, Graduation Rate, Student Needs, Academic Support Services, Student Personnel Services, College Faculty, Teacher Role, School Personnel, Role, Access to Education
Geographic Terms: Illinois (Chicago)
Abstract: For a wide variety of people learning English in the United States--referred to as multilingual learners (MLs) in this report--community colleges provide access to key educational programs. These include adult education English as a Second Language (AE ESL) programs, such as beginning through advanced ESL and integrated English literacy and civics education (IELCE), as well as credit-bearing ESL programs that prepare students for entry into college-level coursework. Although little is known about this growing population of students and the factors that motivate their enrollment, research indicates that barriers to access and persistence disproportionately impede multilingual students' postsecondary success. This report describes findings from a three-year, mixed-methods exploratory study that examined policies and practices impacting multilingual learners (MLs) enrolled at City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), a seven-college district located in the country's third-largest city. It offers insights for community college practitioners, policymakers, and researchers about the goals and backgrounds of MLs in different programs; the experiences of MLs as they are understood by administrators, staff, instructors, and students; promising approaches to serving this population, as well as remaining challenges. The authors begin with a discussion of MLs in community colleges, followed by a description of the research setting and activities. They then present descriptive analyses of student characteristics and select academic outcomes for AE ESL students, as well as qualitative findings, and conclude with considerations for policy and practice.
Abstractor: As Provided
IES Funded: Yes
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED678706
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED678706
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: ED678706
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Report
PubTypeId: report
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Supporting Multilingual Learners in Community Colleges: Lessons from City Colleges of Chicago
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kylie+A%2E+Kenner%22">Kylie A. Kenner</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Julia+Raufman%22">Julia Raufman</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Benjamin+M%2E+James%22">Benjamin M. James</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jorge+Mahecha-Rodriguez%22">Jorge Mahecha-Rodriguez</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22George+C%2E+Bunch%22">George C. Bunch</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Columbia+University%2C+Community+College+Research+Center+%28CCRC%29%22">Columbia University, Community College Research Center (CCRC)</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Community+College+Research+Center%2C+Teachers+College%2C+Columbia+University%22"><i>Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University</i></searchLink>. 2026.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Community College Research Center. Available from: CCRC Publications. Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 West 120th Street Box 174, New York, NY 10027. Tel: 212-678-3091; Fax: 212-678-3699; e-mail: ccrc@columbia.edu; Web site: http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 40
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: SourceSuprt
  Label: Sponsoring Agency
  Group: SrcSuprt
  Data: Ascendium Education Group, Inc.<br />Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
– Name: NumberContract
  Label: Contract Number
  Group: NumCntrct
  Data: R305A190495
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Two+Year+Colleges%22">Two Year Colleges</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Multilingualism%22">Multilingualism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+Learners%22">English Learners</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+College+Students%22">Community College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+%28Second+Language%29%22">English (Second Language)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Policy%22">Educational Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Practices%22">Educational Practices</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Diversity%22">Student Diversity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Characteristics%22">Student Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Placement%22">Student Placement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Enrollment%22">Enrollment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Proficiency%22">Language Proficiency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Credits%22">College Credits</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduation+Rate%22">Graduation Rate</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Needs%22">Student Needs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Support+Services%22">Academic Support Services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Personnel+Services%22">Student Personnel Services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Faculty%22">College Faculty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Role%22">Teacher Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Personnel%22">School Personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Role%22">Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Education%22">Access to Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Illinois+%28Chicago%29%22">Illinois (Chicago)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: For a wide variety of people learning English in the United States--referred to as multilingual learners (MLs) in this report--community colleges provide access to key educational programs. These include adult education English as a Second Language (AE ESL) programs, such as beginning through advanced ESL and integrated English literacy and civics education (IELCE), as well as credit-bearing ESL programs that prepare students for entry into college-level coursework. Although little is known about this growing population of students and the factors that motivate their enrollment, research indicates that barriers to access and persistence disproportionately impede multilingual students' postsecondary success. This report describes findings from a three-year, mixed-methods exploratory study that examined policies and practices impacting multilingual learners (MLs) enrolled at City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), a seven-college district located in the country's third-largest city. It offers insights for community college practitioners, policymakers, and researchers about the goals and backgrounds of MLs in different programs; the experiences of MLs as they are understood by administrators, staff, instructors, and students; promising approaches to serving this population, as well as remaining challenges. The authors begin with a discussion of MLs in community colleges, followed by a description of the research setting and activities. They then present descriptive analyses of student characteristics and select academic outcomes for AE ESL students, as well as qualitative findings, and conclude with considerations for policy and practice.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: CodeSource
  Label: IES Funded
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Yes
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: ED678706
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED678706
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 40
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Multilingualism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English Learners
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Community College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English (Second Language)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Barriers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Policy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Practices
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Diversity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Characteristics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Placement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Enrollment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Proficiency
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Credits
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Graduation Rate
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Needs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Support Services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Personnel Services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Faculty
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Role
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Personnel
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Role
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Access to Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Illinois (Chicago)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Supporting Multilingual Learners in Community Colleges: Lessons from City Colleges of Chicago
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Columbia University, Community College Research Center (CCRC)
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kylie A. Kenner
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Julia Raufman
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Benjamin M. James
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jorge Mahecha-Rodriguez
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: George C. Bunch
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 02
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University
              Type: main
ResultId 1