ALL ABOUT FLAP!

The Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) is one of the largest federal sources of funding for foreign language programs  in U.S. schools. The projects are funded on both the Local and State Education Agency (LEA and SEA) levels. According to the Department of Education, The LEA program "provides grants to establish, improve, or expand innovative foreign language programs for elementary and secondary school students. In awarding grants under this program, the secretary of education supports projects that: (a) show the promise of being continued beyond their project period and (b) demonstrate approaches that can be disseminated and duplicated by other LEAs." Similarly, the SEA program "provides grants to establish, improve, or expand innovative foreign language programs for elementary and secondary school students. In awarding grants under this program, the secretary of education supports projects that promote systemic approaches to improving foreign language learning in the state." For additional information about FLAP, please visit NCELA.

Two political processes affect the future of the Foreign Language Assistance Program: appropriations and reauthorization.

Appropriations
FY 2006:
The appropriations process for the Department of Education is finished. FLAP received a $4 million increase for FY 2006.
For more information, please visit the JNCL-NCLIS Appropriations page.

Reauthorization of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESEA)
The House/Senate Education Conference Committee approved the final version of the education bill, H.R. 1, Leave No Child Behind on December 11, 2001. H.R.1 provides for sweeping reforms in elementary and secondary education. There is good news for the foreign language and international education community. FLAP is included in the final Conference Report. FLAP is now a part of Title V - Promoting Informed Parental Choice and Innovative Programs, Section D - Fund for the Improvement of Education. FLAP is no longer included with Bilingual Education, which is now consolidated into one block grant.
There is an addition to the FLAP program, the Foreign Language Incentive Program (FLIP). FLIP was a part of FLAP in the early 1990's but was not included the last time ESEA was reauthorized. Under this program:
The Secretary shall make an incentive payment for each fiscal year to each public elementary school that provides to students attending such school a program designed to lead to communicative competency in a foreign language.

Information on how to attain funds from this program is expected to be released with the application.

President Bush officially signed H.R. 1 - The No Child Left Behind Act into law on January 8th, 2002. The final reauthorization of ESEA brings to a close Bush's campaign pledge to reform the nation's public school education system and establishing a system of new accountability measures for low-performing schools. The next reauthorization of ESEA will occur in 2007.

The No Child Left Behind Act includes foreign languages in its definition of "core academic subjects." It can be found in Title IX, Part A, Section 9101, Number 11.

FLAP NEWS

The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY 2008 has some very strong report language regarding the Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP).

"The Committee intends for funding available under this program to promote the goal of well-articulated, long-sequence language programs that lead to demonstrable results for all students. The Committee directs the Department not to make grants to schools that are replacing current traditional language programs with critical needs language instruction."
"... At least 75 percent of the appropriation must be used to expand foreign language education in the elementary grades..."
"The Committee is concerned that this program ... is unavailable to the poorest schools because grant recipients must provide a 50 percent match from non-Federal sources. The Committee, therefore, strongly urges the Secretary to use her ability to waive the matching requirement..."