Excellence and Innovation in Language
Learning Act (H.R. 6036) was
introduced on July 30, 2010 by
Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) and
cosponsored by Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY).
H.R. 6036 is a joint effort by a number
of organizations and individuals and is
the result of many past conversations
regarding the need for an omnibus
language bill introduced as serious
consideration of reauthorization of the
Elementary and Secondary Education (No
Child Left Behind) Act has begun to take
shape.
This $400 million bill has three
sections dealing with (1) national
language activities; (2) state language
policies and activities; and (3) a $200
million section supporting partnerships
for improving the teaching and learning
of foreign languages at the K-12 level
through sequenced, articulated language
programs. This last section is nearly
identical to Rep. Holt’s other bill,
H.R. 4065, the Foreign Language
Education Partnership Program Act (FLEPP),
developed by JNCL-NCLIS and CIE working
closely with Mr. Holt and his staff over
the last few years. FLEPP was intended
to amend and complement the current $27
million Foreign Language Assistance
Program (FLAP) which the present
Administration would eliminate and
consolidate along with other
disciplinary programs into a larger
Effective Teaching and Learning for a
Well-Rounded Education program. FLAP and
FLEPP have been strongly supported by
the language and higher education
communities. Since ESEA has not yet been
considered by Congress, the Senate
Appropriations Committee recently
continued FLAP in FY 2011 at the current
funding level.
JNCL is developing a list of
endorsements for H.R. 6036 by our member
associations and within the language
community. If your association would
like to be listed as endorsing H.R.
6036, the Excellence and Innovation in
Language Learning Act, please let JNCL/NCLIS
know so that we can coordinate our
efforts. Please contact your Members of
Congress, as many of you did in May, to
follow up on support for FLAP and H.R.
4065, and to urge them to cosponsor H.R.
6036.
Here is a more detailed summary of this
bill.
President's
Budget Request Request for FY2011
On
February 1, 2010, the President’s
Education Budget FY 2011 request was
released and JNCL-NCLIS staff attended
the briefing at the Department of
Education held by Secretary Arne Duncan
and his staff.
This year’s budget request was
particularly concerning for many in the
audience due to the initiative to
increase accountability and transparency
of education programs by eliminating
many programs and consolidating many
others into six funding streams. Reforms
similar in nature to Race to the Top
(which would receive an additional $1.35
billion) and i3 grants would continue
and expand.
The consolidation effort was vast,
affecting programs and dedicated funding
streams throughout the entire
Department. Included in the
consolidation would be the Foreign
Language Assistance Program (FLAP) and
many other programs that provide federal
funding for languages and international
education for U.S. students, which would
be grouped into one of the six main
funding streams. Many programs of
importance to JNCL-NCLIS, FLAP among
them, would be consolidated into the
category for “well-rounded education”
along with history, economics, the arts,
and other subject areas. Overall, the
Administration’s request would allocate
more money to federal education
programs, but the nature of the
consolidations would make it so that
smaller programs and subject areas are
in direct competition for federal grants
in larger competitions, rather than
holding several smaller competitions
which have their own dedicated funding
as is the current situation.
JNCL-NCLIS has sent a
letter to express concerns regarding
the President’s Request to send to
Secretary Duncan.
We urge you to consult the
Press Release and
Justifications, and then draft your
letter to Secretary Duncan. Please also
be prepared to write similar letters to
members of the Appropriations Committee
and Members of Congress regarding the
upcoming reauthorization of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
Foreign Language Education
Partnership Program Act (H.R.4065) Rep. Rush Holt
reintroduced his Foreign Language
Education Partnership Program Act to
amend the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 to establish a
partnership program in foreign
languages. The Secretary of Education
would be given the authority to make
incentive payments to eligible
partnerships to “develop and maintain
model programs that support articulated
language learning in kindergarten
through grade 12”. The funds may be used
for program design and teaching
strategies according to best practices
and available research, curriculum and
materials development, national
assessment development and enhancement,
teacher in-service and pre-service
program development, and recruitment
incentives for new teachers and
students. The funds can also be used to
provide opportunities for maximum
language exposure for students,
dual-language immersion programs,
scholarships for study abroad
opportunities, activities that encourage
whole-school and community involvement,
effective and innovative use of
technology, and certification and
alternative certification programs.
Further, a model program is exempt from
receiving funding under this program
unless it contains a research and
evaluation component that would collect
data regarding the effectiveness of each
activity of the language program and the
effect of each activity on the language
proficiency of the students. This data
would be analyzed and made public under
standardization guidelines determined by
the Secretary.
A partnership that is awarded incentive
funding under this program for one
fiscal year would have the opportunity
to continue funding for the three
succeeding fiscal years if proven
effective. This requirement may be
waived by the Secretary if the program
relates to critical languages or if the
year is used primarily for planning
rather than program implementation.
National
Foreign Language Coordination Act of
2009 (S.1010)
On May 7, 2009 during the
JNCL-NCLIS Legislative Day, Sen. Daniel
Akaka (D-HI) announced the introduction
of his "National Language Coordination
Act of 2009" - S. 1010. Current
co-sponsors for this bill include
Senators Thad Cochran (R-MI),
Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Richard
Durbin (D-IL), and Russell Feingold
(D-WI).
The bill would establish a National
Foreign Language Coordination Council in
the Executive Office of the President,
directed by a National Language Advisor
appointed by the President to oversee,
coordinate, and implement continuing
national security and language education
initiatives. To remain informed of the
bill’s progress, visit
THOMAS
and search for bill number S. 1010.
American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
RACE TO THE TOP resources
***Pleaselet the Department of
Education know of our concern that
innovation in the Race to the Top must
include foreign language by sending
letters and comments via the
regulations.gov form.
Senator Paul Simon
Study Abroad Foundation Act (S.473)
(H.R.2410)
The Senator Paul Simon Study
Abroad Foundation Act, which was
introduced in both houses last year and
actually passed the Senate, was again
introduced in both houses recently. The
legislation would create a Foundation
that would award grants for study abroad
opportunities, with an emphasis on
nontraditional destinations. The Senate
bill is sponsored by Sen. Richard Durbin
(D-IL) with a number of co-sponsors, and
the House bill was introduced by House
Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman
Howard Berman (D-CA) as part of the
Foreign Relations Authorization Act.
Excellence
and Innovation in Language Learning
