Council approves 3% inflationary increase for adult English‑learning coalition

The Education & Culture Committee approved a 3% inflationary increase for the Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy at its April 23 session, a change staff said amounts to roughly $75,361 in additional contract funding for the county fiscal year.

Coalition representatives told council members they coordinate a network of 24 organizations and 29 adult ESOL programs; mid‑year reports covering July–December showed more than 3,500 unique learners (4,366 enrollments when counting duplicate class attendance). A coalition presenter summarized U.S. Census American Community Survey figures and said an estimated 139,000 adults in Montgomery County speak English less than “very well,” a population growing faster than current service capacity.

Incoming executive director Gerard Etienne, who starts in May, spoke about his personal and professional commitment to the work; coalition staff described expansion of in‑person and hybrid classes and noted a data discrepancy in the East County service share that they corrected in committee discussion (from ~16% reported to about 8% after zip‑code mapping adjustments). Coalition leaders said the modest county increase will allow them to award more grant funding to providers, enhance outreach, and strengthen professional development for instructors.

Committee members welcomed the incoming leadership and stressed increased service to East County and linkages to behavioral‑health efforts; council staff recommended approval pending the county’s broader 3% inflationary adjustment. The committee approved the change ‘without objection’ and invited the coalition back for follow‑up briefing as it implements outreach plans.

Next steps: council staff will include the NDA inflationary adjustment in the committee recommendation to full council; coalition representatives will continue outreach to expand East County offerings and report progress to the committee.