Express Program – ESOL is sponsored by Commonwealth Corporation. Provides funding for Massachusetts businesses to offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) training to employees.

Commonwealth Corporation - WTFP Express - ESOL Program The Express program is an offering of the Workforce Training Fund available to eligible employers to continue employee workplace development. The Express program is here to help, with easily accessible and streamlined training via our course directory. *ESOL training courses available.

Jump-Start ESOL training with the Express Program New to the express program? Here’s what you need to know: The Express Program funds just-in-time, off-the-shelf training to meet eligible Massachusetts businesses’ urgent needs. Applications only take up to 21 days (3 weeks) to approve.

The Express Program only supports businesses with 100 or fewer W-2 employees working in Massachusetts. Express Program grants for ESOL courses follow the same rules and guidelines as all other Express grants (you can read our guidelines here ).

But there are special allowances to our guidelines that make it even easier for businesses to use Express for ESOL training: Express offers up to 100% reimbursement for companies with 51-100 employees, specifically for ESOL courses (all other types of courses are only eligible for up to 50% reimbursement for companies with 51-100 employees).

Eligible employees are permitted to attend an ESOL course that they have previously taken under a past WTFP grant made through the Express or General Programs. Eligible employees can volunteer to take part in Express-funded ESOL training partially on their own time . A minimum of 50% of employees’ time spent in ESOL training must be on company time and paid at the regular rate.

All ESOL courses are pre-approved and available for viewing on our Express Course Directory. Businesses apply for courses listed in this directory at least 21 days (3 weeks) before the start date of the first course. We recommend reaching out to the training provider offering the course(s) you’re interested in prior to applying for funding to ensure their course is a good fit for your company’s needs.

Eligible Massachusetts businesses can receive up to $15,000 per calendar year in training reimbursement for approved expenses, up to $3,000 per person/per course , and/or $300 per instructional hour. Once a business receives an approved Express grant and e-signs their service agreement, they schedule, take their course, and pay for it in full before requesting reimbursement following our simplified reimbursement request process .

Pre-approved courses listed in directory Businesses can be reimbursed up to $3,000 per person per course *Approved training courses listed on the Express Training Course Directory have a set number of hours. A pre-defined set of learning objectives are led by an instructor and have a low level of customization.

Instructions: to filter the list of pre-approved ESOL courses, check off the “ESOL Courses” checkbox underneath the search fields, then click the blue “Search” bar. Contact information for the training provider offering the course can be located by clicking on the link Express Course ID in the far-left column of each course.

Think of Express grants like a “bridge” to something more: whether it’s to keep employees learning English between General Program grants, or to start offering them English language instruction on a smaller scale. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions we receive from businesses: What is the Express Program and how do I apply? How can I determine if my organization is eligible to receive an Express Program grant?

I just received a notice that my DUA account is not in compliance. Does this mean I am not eligible for the Express Program? If I am approved for funding through the Express Program, am I guaranteed reimbursement?

What does the Express Program application look like? Click here for more solutions to frequently asked questions. Think of standardizing your courses into modules: set chunks of content that can be delivered in roughly the same way to businesses A, B, and C.

The goal is for Express applicants to have the same experience with your courses. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions we receive from businesses: I am interested in adding my courses to your Express Course Directory, what is the process? Does a business need to pay me for training before the course begins?

Are fully self-paced courses eligible for reimbursement through the Express Program? Click here for more solutions to frequently asked questions.