English Language Learners / Dual Language Learners / Multicultural Education Support – Language Lizard Blog

TITLE III GRANTS: FUNDING FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS / LEP STUDENTS

bilingual education Title III grantIn a previous blog post, we provided a thorough guide to many different types of grants and funding for bilingual classrooms. In this post, we’ll take a look at one type of grant in particular: Title III.

What is Title III Funding?

Title III is a two-part, $700 million federal program with a goal of improving education. Part A is dedicated to students who are immigrants or Limited English Proficient (LEP). Its primary purpose is to make sure these students become proficient in English and, at the same time, meet the academic achievement standards that other students are expected to meet. Title III funds must be used for language instruction educational programs.

How does the U.S. Department of Education award Title III Funding?

States receive Title III grants according to census data. The state, in turn, divides the funding into subgrants that are made available to Local Education Agencies within each state: school districts, county offices of education, and direct-funded charter schools. Private schools are not eligible for Title III funding, although there is a way for LEP students who attend private schools to participate in Title III-funded programs. Funds not used in one year can be carried over to the next. Any funds not used by the end of the second school year will be returned to the US Department of Education.

Use of Title III Funds

Generally speaking, funds must be used to provide high-quality instruction in language programs that increase English proficiency and academic achievement in core subjects. Programs must include professional development for teachers, administrators and principals, as well as parent outreach programs. Funds can be used for curricular materials, classroom supplies and software to support LEP / immigrant students.

There are many rules about what programs and activities can be funded with a Title III subgrant.  A full list of authorized and required use of funds can be found here. You can read about requirements for subjects like “supplement” vs. “supplant” activities, alternative education programs, special education programs, and parental notification. This New Jersey Department of Education document is also helpful as it clearly lays out out allowable uses for Title III LEP funds and Title III Immigrant funds.

The recipients of each subgrant are held accountable each year, and students must meet annual English language development objectives. Annual achievement objectives must be met in the form of test scores that demonstrate students are making progress toward English proficiency. There are some Local Education Agencies that decline the use of Title III subgrants because they don’t want to take part in the rigor of its required testing. Subgrant recipients must reapply for Title III funds each year through a process involving submission of various reports, plans and evaluation requirements.

For additional support and information, visit Language Lizard’s Funding & Grants page

“Pictures of Money” by Money via Flickr is licensed under CC BY 2.0 https://flic.kr/p/s68a4i

6 thoughts on “TITLE III GRANTS: FUNDING FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS / LEP STUDENTS”

  1. Thanks for this info, and for the helpful links – even with working in a school system, I didn’t know some of this info!

  2. I teach a foundations course at a university for pre-service teachers preparing to teach English language learners in inclusive classrooms. I’ve always recommended your site to my students for bilingual resources, but now I will recommend this blog as well. Thanks!

  3. This is great news! I don’t know if I would be qualified if by educating music in different languages is accounted as language education through Music Sessions. Yet I will recommend LL for these cultural awareness activities, because it brings tolerance from the early education.

  4. I’m surprised this much money was earmarked for this. Many other countries in the world teach English as a second language, so must immigrants should have a decent grasp of English.

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