"The past several decades have seen a significant increase in the number of people immigrating to the United States, not only from Latin America but also from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and other regions of the globe. Many of these recent immigrants are limited English proficient (LEP), which affects their ability to succeed in the workforce. Continued growth in the numbers of individuals in the United States who are LEP will affect the social features and economic conditions of our country into the foreseeable future. To compete against foreign and domestic producers of goods and services, U.S. employers require workers with appropriate communication, literacy, and occupational skills. The resulting demand for training in English language proficiency and occupational skills is generating new challenges for employers, educators, and the public workforce investment system. Most LEP workers need access to training opportunities in Vocational English as a Second Language (VESL) in order to fill both the existing and the emerging labor requirements of employers. In 2006, the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) created the Limited English Proficiency and Hispanic Workforce Initiative (LEPHWI) to support five demonstration grants intended to address these challenges."--P. vii.