English Language Acquisition Grants (84.365)
Program
84.365 English Language Acquisition Grants
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Authorization
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended, Title III, Part A, Sections 3101, 3129.
Program Number
84.365
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To ensure that limited English proficient children (LEP) and youth, including immigrant children and youth, attain English proficiency and meet the same challenging State academic content and student academic achievement standards as all children and youth are expected to meet; to provide assistance to Native American, Native Hawaiian, Native American Pacific Islander, and Alaska native Children with certain modifications relative to the unique status of native American language under Federal Law; to develop to the extent possible, the native language skills of such children.
Types of Assistance
Formula Grants; Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
The Department awards allotments to States on a formula based their numbers of limited English proficient (LEP) children and immigrant children. States must use at least 95 percent of their allotments to award local educational agencies sub- grants to assist limited English proficient students learn English and meet challenging State academic content and student achievement standards and to provide immigrant students enhanced instructional opportunities. States may reserve up to 5 percent of their allotments for administrative costs and technical assistance to sub-grantees. The Department awards allotments to Outlying Areas for activities including developing instructional programs for ELLs by hiring tutors, conducting professional development for paraprofessionals, teachers in training and in-servicing teachers, hiring teachers for "new-comer" programs, purchasing and developing materials to be used in the classroom for ELL instruction, etc. Native American applicants funds are used to increase English proficiency and student academic achievement for (LEP) students and provide high-quality professional development training for teachers and support personnel. Training must improve teacher instruction and assessment capabilities, and enhance their ability to understand and use curricula, assessment measures, and instruction strategies for LEP students. Training must also be based upon scientifically based research and be of sufficient intensity and duration as to have a positive and lasting impact. Funds may also be used for identifying, acquiring, and upgrading curricula, instruction materials, educational software, and assessment procedures.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
States and outlying areas with approved State plans are eligible to receive funds. For the project grant component, eligibility is limited to a tribally sanctioned educational authority, or an elementary or secondary school that is operated or funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs or a nonprofit, Native Hawaiian or Native American Pacific Islander language organization.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Children with limited English proficiency.
Credentials/Documentation
Not applicable.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
States apply for an allotment by submitting a plan to the Department that describes the process they will use in making sub-grants, holding sub-grantees accountable for making adequate yearly progress for LEP students, and establishing standards and objectives for raising the level of English proficiency in alignment with State academic content and student academic achievement standards. The Department uses a peer review process in approving State plans. Outlying area applicants must decide if they will apply under the Consolidated Application Process for outlying areas' under OESE in which they might combine various funds (also whether they will chose Title III as one of the priorities under this process) or whether they will apply singularly to OELA. In each case an application must be developed in which the proposal addresses the purpose of the grant, priorities, goals and objectives, activities, evaluation, needs, and a budget indicating how the funds will be used. For the project grant component, applicants must submit through the discretionary grant process. Eligible entities applying for funding under the Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program, will submit a competitive discretionary grant that describes: The programs and activities that will be developed, implemented and administered; how the funds will be used to meet all the annual measurable achievement objectives; and other criteria included in the application notice and program statute.
Award Procedure
The Department will allocate funds to any State or outlying area with an approved plan. States must expend at least 95 percent of their Title III allotments to award subgrants to local educational agencies and other eligible entities to meet the educational needs of LEP and immigrant children and youth. The project grant applications for Native American institutions are approved for awards by the Director, Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement based on evaluations and recommendations from outside experts and an administrative review of the applications.
Deadlines
Deadlines will be announced in the application notice published in the Federal Register. Contact the Program Office for more information.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
In programs administered by the Department, Section 432 of the General Education Provisions Act provides local educational agencies with a right of appeal in disagreements between State and local educational agencies, including disagreements over funding decisions. Where a local educational agency alleges that the denial of funding is "a violation of State or Federal law, rules, regulations, or guidelines governing the applicable program," it may, within 30 days, request a hearing from the State educational agency. Once the hearing is held and the State educational agency issues its written ruling, the local educational agency may appeal a negative ruling to the Secretary.
Renewals
Not applicable for Formula Grants. For the Project Grant component, renewals are based on an annual review of the performance data and the availability of funds.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
State grants will be issued on a formula basis based partly on the count of LEP students and the count of immigrant children. Eighty percent of the funds will be computed based on the State's portion of the LEP count as compared to the total LEP count for all States, and twenty percent will be computed based on the state's portion of the immigrant children count as compared to the count for all States. Outlying area grants will be issued on a formula basis based on the number of LEP students in the particular outlying area as compared to the LEP count for all of the outlying areas. Native American institutions will be issued discretionary grants based on an analysis of the budget request.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance Funds under the State Formula Grant and the Outlying Area Grant programs are 1-year grants; the discretionary grants under the Native American program are for up to 5 years, subject to the availability of appropriations.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Grantees are subject to the reporting requirements contained in Parts 76 and 80 of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). Specific for formula grants: States prepare and submit reports every second year on the programs and activities carried out by the SEA and the effectiveness of such programs and activities in improving the education of children who are limited English proficient. Local educational agencies that receive sub-grants from SEAs must provide States with an evaluation every second year. The evaluation must include: A description of the programs and activities conducted; a description of the progress made by children in learning English and meeting challenging State academic content and achievement standards; the number and percentage of children in the programs attaining English proficiency by the end of each year; and a description of the progress made by children in meeting State academic content and student achievement standards for each of the 2 years after such children are no longer receiving services.
Audits
All grantees are subject to the provision of the Single Audit Act.
Records
All grantees must maintain and complete records as provided in EDGAR.
Program Accomplishments
This is a new program.
Financial Information
Account Identification
91-1300-0-1-501.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $0; FY 03 est $415,000,000; and FY 04 est $469,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
For formula grants in FY 02, $500,000 to $115,296,000; for project grants: $150,000 to $175,000 each year.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
The Department is in the process of developing guidance for the English Language Acquisition Program. The Department expects to complete this guidance in April 2002 and will distribute the guidance to Chief State School Officers and State Title III and outlying area Coordinators. For more information contact the Program Office.
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., MES, Room 5086, Washington, DC 20202-6510. Contact: Harry Logel. E-mail: Harry.Logel@ed.gov. Telephone: (202) 205-5530. State Grant Program: Sue Kenworthy E-mail: Sue.Kenworthy@ed.gov. Telephone: (202) 205-5539. Outlying Areas Grant Program: Samuel Lopez: E-mail: Samuel.Lopez@ed.gov. Telephone: (202) 401-1427.
Web Site Address
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OBEMLA/funding.html
Examples of Funded Projects
This is a new program.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
None.
