The Department of Education’s FY27 budget again takes aim at language education programs. In K-12, it would eliminate Title III English Language Acquisition and Migrant Education, both of which last year’s budget sought to zero-out. The budget justifies deleting the $890 million Title III program and $428 million Migrant Education program using a mix of rhetoric related to illegal immigration, low test scores and federal overreach as grounds.

There are moments in advocacy work when the message becomes so urgent, so personal, that it moves beyond policy and into something deeper, something human. Carla Dirlikov Canales’ keynote at JNCL-NCLIS Language Advocacy Days was one of those moments. In a room filled with educators, business leaders, and students from every state, united for every student, we experienced something rare. We were not just listening to a speech. We were being invited into a life. Carla shared he

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) recently announced the opening of FY26 World Language Advancement and Readiness Program Grants (WLARP). The FY 2026 WLARP grants will range from $500,000 to $2,000,000 per award to eligible school districts over up to 5 years, depending on the size of the eligible student population. Applications are now open and must be submitted by April 24, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.

Language is defined as a system of communication used by a particular country or community. But for me, it means so much more than that. It represents family, memory, and identity. When English isn’t enough to express the depth of my emotions, I often find myself switching to Telugu. Telugu is not just a language I speak; it is my home. It is the language of my childhood and an integral part of who I am.  Language holds context, emotions, and affection. Telugu is how I expres

This afternoon, the House of Representatives passed, on a vote of 217 to 214 , a five bill FY26 Appropriations minibus that contains final FY26 funding for the Departments of Labor, HHS, Education, Transportation, HUD, State, and Defense. It does not include final FY26 funding for the Department of Homeland Security as a result of Senate Democrats forcing the Senate to remove this bill from the package over ICE’s controversial activities in Minneapolis. Instead of funding Hom

House and Senate Appropriations Committees released a four bill FY26 “minibus” appropriations bill that contains final compromise funding levels for the Departments of Defense Labor, HHS, and Education. The great news is that the World Language Advancement and Readiness Grants program at the Department of Defense was not only preserved but received a 50% increase. Additionally, key K-12 programs that the Trump Administration proposed for elimination – including Title II-A (pr

the US Department of Education announced that it had concluded six interagency agreements with four other federal agencies that will transfer some but not all responsibility for multiple USDE education programs. Virtually all major language education programs housed currently by the Department of Education will be impacted.

As artificial intelligence continues to transform education, language educators have been among the early adopters of tools that use AI and chatbots to enhance communication, feedback, and personalized learning. However, as Congress moves forward with new legislative efforts to regulate artificial intelligence in schools, these policies will directly influence how educators and students are able to use AI-driven tools for instruction and assessment.

the state of Indiana submitted to the U.S. Department of Education a request to consolidate multiple federal K-12 programs, including all or parts of Titles I (migrant education but not state grants), II-A, III and IV A and B, into a single block grant, which could be used for “any activity authorized under the” Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

The House Labor HHS Education Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to approve at its September 2nd mark-up a FY26 funding bill which would cut the Department of Education by $12 billion (-15% cut). It would also decimate key language education programs, eliminating funding for ESEA Title II-A (professional development), Title III (English Language Acquisition), and HEA Title VI Fulbright Hays (language education and study abroad).

the President signed an Executive Order (EO) on Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking. This new standard of review is likely to further delay grant awards and appears intended to skew awards away from the usual recipients, particularly higher education research institutions that the Administration has been assailing. It also reinforces ongoing efforts to prevent federal grants from supporting DEI, gender ideology or anything else not aligned with the Administration’s vie

On July 31st, the Senate Appropriations Committee debated and approved its version of the FY26 Labor HHS Education Appropriations and Defense bills, clearing them for floor action after Congress’s August recess.