JNCL-NCLIS is Energized by the House Appropriations Committee Approving $20 Million for WLARA

for immediate release

Late on June 24th, the House Appropriations Committee approved the FY27 Department of Defense Appropriations bill, which includes $20 million for the World Language Advancement and Readiness (WLARA) grants program. If enacted, this would represent a $5 million increase over last year for WLARA and would be the largest amount of funding that WLARA has received. 

Since WLARA’s inception in 2021, the Department of Defense Area Education Activity (DODEA) has awarded more than $78.8 million in WLARA grants to 33 public school districts, spread across 19 states, to establish, improve, or expand innovative programs in world language learning. Languages represented by the awards include American Sign Language (ASL), French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish.

JNCL-NCLIS, which led efforts to authorize this program and continues to push for its funding each year, celebrated this significant milestone. JNCL-NCLIS Executive Director Amanda Seewald stated: “We applaud the House Appropriations Committee for expanding WLARA  and recognizing that it is a proven model for what language education supported by federal funding must do to empower our nation's students with the globally ready skills of biliteracy and bilingualism. WLARA data already overwhelmingly demonstrates military connected students are benefiting from WLARA-supported programs. WLARA grantee schools are growing broader learning opportunities by constructing programs that enhance education through sustained and well articulated focus on language learning as a central component of comprehensive k-12 education. The decision to grow WLARA is an important step towards growing more globally ready students across the nation.” 

Today’s action, while critical, is not the final step to securing the full $20 million for WLARA next year. The full House still needs to vote on it and the Senate must also approve this increase. Final enactment of the FY27 Defense Appropriations bill is not likely to occur until after the November elections.

“The House’s endorsement of more funding for WLARA would not have occurred without strong bipartisan support from our America’s Language Caucus co-chairs, Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA),” continued Seewald. “Now that the House has set this high bar for WLARA support, I urge the Senate to follow the House’s lead and commit $20 million to this vital program.”