Immigrants and other vulnerable persons are facing multiple attacks. Kids in cages. Border walls. Disruption of their home countries, which increases pressure to migrate.

Chicago officials say we are a sanctuary city and welcome immigrants. But City Colleges Chancellor Juan Salgado is undermining immigrant opportunity by cutting adult education classes available.

Adult Education is the biggest program in Illinois that provides opportunities to generations of immigrants and working-class Chicagoans, providing free classes in English as a Second Language (ESL) and GED high school equivalency. With no consultation with students or adult educators, Chancellor Salgado and Associate Vice Chancellor Maureen Fitzpatrick propose drastic cutbacks in ESL and GED classes.  

These cuts not only limit student choice and deny educational opportunity for people trying to improve their lives. It also means teachers suddenly losing 25% of their paid teaching hours - a drastic cut proposed only days after the adult educators union (AFSCME Local 3506) voted to accept a new contract. Teachers who lose hours are also in jeopardy of being ineligible for the CCC health insurance plan and other benefits.

Moreover, AFSCME 3506 has found that these changes do not meet the standards of sustainable educational practice. CCC wants to see an increase in standardized test scores for the Adult Education Program but the reduction in instructional hours will certainly make this goal more difficult for the students to achieve.

After winning election, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said “We are a sanctuary city…we're going to continue to make sure that this is truly a welcoming community for those immigrants”.

Tell City Colleges Chancellor Salgado to honor that spirit.  Tell him to save and improve adult education - a process that must include educators, students, and the community.