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Adult and Community Learning Services

ABE Needs Charts

The purpose of the ABE Needs Chart is to rank the 351 communities in the state of Massachusetts by NEED based on the ABE/ESOL target population of under educated and limited English proficient citizens. The decennial census data which is used to rank the communities is the same data used by the federal, state and local governments to draw congressional and state legislative districts, distribute billions of dollars in funding and make a variety of decisions to improve their communities.

The ABE Needs Charts is organized by Service Delivery Area, by community. The Service Delivery Areas were drawn in response to the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. The Act stipulated in Chapter II, Section 116 that "the Governor of each state shall designate local workforce investment areas within the state" taking into consideration the following:

1. Geographic areas served by local educational agencies and intermediate educational agencies.
2. Geographic areas served by postsecondary educational institutions and area vocational education schools.
3. The extend to which such local areas are consistent with labor market areas.
4. The distance that individuals will need to travel to receive services provided in such local areas.
5. The resources of such local areas that are available to effectively administer the activities carried out under the section of the law.

Massachusetts has sixteen (16) service delivery areas. To find the contacts for your local workforce development/service delivery area go to: http://www.massworkforce.org/RebExecutiveDirectors.htm and http://www.detma.org/WSCareerCenters.htm.

Explanation of ABE Needs Chart Based on Census 2000

Column 1 - "SDA"

SDA = Service Delivery Area or Workforce Development Area - there are 16 areas and a map is included outlining each of the areas with the SDA name and number designation.

Column 2 - "Cities/Towns"

All 351 cities and towns in the state of Massachusetts are listed and sorted by SDA area.

Column 3 - "Total Population"

The numbers is this column represent the total population for each city/town as recorded in the U. S. Census 2000.

Column 4 - "Total LEP & ABE 2000 Census"

LEP = Limited English Proficient; ABE = Adult Basic Education

The total represents the U. S. Census 2000 identified population that speak English "less than well", and the identified population 18+ and over who "do not have a high school diploma", non-duplicated.

Example: Brockton has:

LEP Population	4,030
ABE Population	16,780
Total	20,810

Column 5 - "Distribution Based on Population"

A formula was applied as follows:

IF total population is less than 1,800 the city/town must collaborate "collab." with another city/town as the population in the one city/town is not sufficient to support a program.

Example: Adams has a population of less than 1,800 - actual 1,544 - so they must collaborate with other city/town to justify a program.

IF total population is greater than 1,800 but less than 12,000 the city/town qualifies for one program and may apply as a separate city/town if they choose.

Example: North Adams has a total LEP &ABE population of more than 1,800 but less than 12,000 - actual 2,921 - so it qualifies for one program.

IF total populations is greater than 12,000, the total population is divided by 7,000 (changed on 9/14/04) to determine the number of programs the city/town is eligible for.

Example: Fall River has a total population of 35,734 which divided by 6,000 qualifies them for 6 programs.

Column 6 - "Rural Designation"

A community is designated as "rural" if the community resides in a county with a population density of less than 750 people/sq. mile AND the community has a population density of less than 750 people/sq. mile.

Column 7 - "Total LEP & ABE Need % Pop."

Column 4, Total LEP & ABE 2000 Census, is divided by Column 3, Total Population and the result is the percent of need as it relates to the total population.

Example: Adams has a "Total LEP & ABE 2000 Census" population of 1,544 which is 18% of the total population of 8,809.

Column 8 - "Needs Pts. Based on LEP & ABE % of Population"

IF Column 7 is less than 10%, then 1 point is assigned.
IF Column 7 is less than 20%, then 2 points are assigned
IF Column 7 is less than 30%, then 3 points are assigned
IF Column 7 is less than 40%, then 4 points are assigned
IF Column 7 is less than 50%, then 5 points are assigned

Example:

Alford is less than 10%, result 1 pt. is assigned Clarksburg is more than 10%, less than 20%, result 2 pts are. assigned Somerset is more than 20%, less than 30%, result 3 pts. are assigned Fall River is more than 30%, less than 40%, result 4 pts. are assigned Chelsea is more than 40%, less than 50% - result 5 pts. are assigned

Column 9 - "Needs Pts. Based on LEP/ABE Population"

IF Column 4 is less than 1,000, then 0 pts. are assigned
IF Column 4 is less than 3,999, then 1 pt. is assigned
IF Column 4 is less than 5,999, then 2 pts. are assigned
IF Column 4 is less than 7,999, then 3 pts. are assigned
IF Column 4 is less than 11,999, then 4 pts. are assigned
IF Column 4 is greater than 12, 000, then 5 pts. are assigned

Example:

Alford is less than 1,000 in column 4, result 0 pts. are assigned Adams is greater than 1,000 but less than 3,999, result 1 pt is assigned Pittsfield is greater than 3,999 but less than 5,999, result 2 pts. are assigned Attleboro is greater than 5,999 but less than 7,999, result 3 pts. are assigned Holyoke is greater than 7,999 but less than 12,000, result 4 pts.are assigned Lawrence is greater than 12,000, result 5 pts.are assigned

Column 10 - "Needs Points"

The total of Column 8 and Column 9 - Example: Adams 2 plus 1 = 3