Before a student is accepted into a Learning Source program, they must participate in a scheduled enrollment and assessment process at the learning center at which they want to enroll.   They must complete some basic paperwork and complete a skills assessment to determine if the program is a good fit for him or her.  To successfully improve their English language conversation, reading and writing skills with the help of Learning Source staff and volunteers they must meet these basic qualifications:

r      Must be an adult* for whom English is not their native language. 
r      Must function below a score of 236 on the CASAS assessment or below a 7.0 on the TABE Reading Assessment. 
r      Must commit to regular, weekly classes; must be able to keep the same general appointment time from week to week, and must be able to actively participate in at least 2 hours of instruction with minimal breaks. 
r      Must be able to meet during regularly scheduled class times at one of The Learning Source service-delivery locations and to get to that location without guidance after the first appointment. 
r      Must have a minimum level of maturity and independence as demonstrated by the ability to participate in the enrollment and assessment process.  Spanish language translators and forms are provided during enrollment at our English language acquisition centers.  Students who speak another language are invited to bring an interpreter to the enrollment process. 
r      Must be able to take the approved assessment at the learning center within the publisher-approved accommodation.  Must be able to take the assessment independently and within the time allowed. 
r      Must be able to hear well enough, and communicate verbally, to participate actively in our English language acquisition activities. 
r      If writing in English is a goal, the student must be able to hold and control a writing instrument well enough, given available assistive devices if needed, to print letters OR be able to use a keyboard well enough to find and strike specified keys. 
r      Must arrive at classes ready to learn – that is, not under sedation or under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. 
r      Must be prepared to work with Learning Source staff or volunteers in group settings that will include other adult learners. 
r      Must be a dedicated learner as demonstrated by being on time to classes, by attending regularly, by notifying the lead teacher in a timely fashion if unable to attend class, and by treating the staff and tutors with respect. 
r      After enrolling, students must demonstrate improvement in either speaking, listening, reading or writing after each year of study to enroll for the next year.

Learning Source staff and volunteers receive training in the usage of a particular curriculum which addresses speaking, listening, reading and writing in a life-skills context.   Instruction is theme-based and emphasizes those skills students need in order to function in the English-speaking community and workplace.  This takes place at designated locations and times in classroom groups that may range from 6-20 students.   At some locations volunteers work with students under the guidance and supervision of a paid instructor. At other locations, volunteers work as classroom aides to paid instructors.  Staff and volunteers are all English speakers although not all are native-English speakers.  Use of languages other than English during instruction is discouraged.  Staff and volunteers are not trained to provide specialized services to meet the needs of students with severe learning disabilities.

*An adult, for The Learning Source purposes, is a person who is at least 17 years of age who is no longer enrolled in school. 

Partner agencies may have different enrollment guidelines that are available at those sites.