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Immigrant-serving groups ask council to boost ESOL funding to $500,000 for FY26
Summary
Nonprofits, ESOL students and adult-education providers urged the council to increase Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) ESOL grants from the proposed $225,000 to $500,000, citing long wait lists and program planning needs.
Community organizations, ESOL teachers and students testified that adult English-for-speakers-of-other-languages classes remain undersupplied and asked the City Council to amend the FY26 budget to raise MOIA’s ESOL allocation from $225,000 to $500,000.
Amanda Wang, co-founder and CEO of Potencia, asked the council to “amend the fiscal year 26 budget and increase MOIA’s ESOL funding from $225,000 to $500,000,” saying the additional funding restores levels that expanded access last year.
Claudia Green, executive director of English for New Bostonians, described a recent round of MOIA grants that allocated $400,000 to ESOL providers and urged the council to provide predictable, timely funding: “We request the funds be released in the first quarter, by September 30. ESOL programs operate on a school-year calendar, so waiting to know about funding for 10 months into the year makes it really difficult to plan.”
Direct-service providers summarized program demand and outcomes: Michelle Duval, director of adult education at Gardner Pilot Academy, said her site’s seven ESOL classes serve about 100 adult learners and that 30% of students are parents of GPA students; Carol Baglio of East Boston Harborside Community School said her program serves more than 500 students annually and reported a wait list of roughly 580 people seeking classes.
Students and graduates testified that ESOL classes had meaningful outcomes: one student said classes helped them “go to the doctor's appointments without needing a translator” and “apply for jobs.” Providers asked for sustained multi-year funding so they can hire instructors, recruit students and plan classes on a school-year schedule.
No formal council vote took place at the hearing; councilors said they will review testimony during upcoming working sessions as they consider amendments to the mayor’s budget.
