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Upper Darby highlights partnership with Delaware County Literacy Council to expand adult ESL classes
Summary
The Education People Services Committee heard an overview of the district's partnership with the Delaware County Literacy Council, which offers free adult ESL classes at Upper Darby facilities funded in part by Title III federal funds. Presenters outlined class structure, enrollment history and outreach plans; no board action was taken.
Upper Darby School District officials on Wednesday detailed a long-running partnership with the Delaware County Literacy Council that provides free adult English-as-a-second-language classes to district residents, officials said.
The presentation, given to the Education People Services Committee by Dr. Manfry and Dr. Kelly, said the Delaware County Literacy Council has provided free, confidential literacy services since the council’s founding in 1976 and that Upper Darby began hosting the council’s classes on district property in 2013 with support from Title III federal funds. "This partnership ... provides our adult immigrant families with a very, very valuable service," Dr. Manfry said.
The program offers instructor-led ESL classes twice a week for two hours per evening, with a class cap of 25 students and a three-absence limit per term, Dr. Kelly said. Students are assessed at the beginning and end of each course to measure progress and guide future placement. The district reported a growth in parent participation: nine participants in 2013–14, restarting after a COVID-related pause, reaching 68 in 2022–23 and 89 in 2023–24, Dr. Kelly said. Registration for the 2024–25 classes is open; classes and placement testing begin in September.
Officials described several goals for the partnership tied to Title III funding: improving English proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing; supporting academic achievement; easing transition to instruction delivered entirely in English; and increasing parent involvement. "When parents of English learners improve their English skills, it not only benefits their own involvement, but also positively impacts their children and their academic performance," Dr. Manfry said.
Committee members asked about barriers to participation. Staff said childcare and evening work schedules have limited some families’ ability to attend; the district has used National Honor Society students to provide ad hoc childcare support in the past and said it would explore additional options with the literacy council. A public commenter praised the program’s growth and urged the district to add technology and artificial-intelligence tools so families can practice at home; Dr. Manfry said the council already uses some technology and that the district would discuss creative outreach options.
The presenters said the Delco Literacy Council serves all of Delaware County but that a majority of participants in the classes held at Upper Darby sites have been Upper Darby residents. Flyers and translated registration materials are being distributed through schools and community bulletin boards, and the district provides facility space and Title III funds while the council runs the program.
The committee received the informational presentation; no formal motion or board vote on the literacy program was recorded during the meeting.
Plans and next steps noted by district staff included continued coordination with the literacy council on scheduling and outreach, exploring technology-enhanced learning options, and reporting back to the board with enrollment data after the early-September registration snapshot.
