USDE Offices Redistributed Across Federal Government Departments

This afternoon, 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. The Department cites as precedent for these agreements the interagency agreement that transferred the Career and Technical Education program to the Department of Labor. A Q and A for the Department of Labor (DOL) agreement on OESE indicates that Labor will be providing grant administration services, including managing competitions, while the USDE "will maintain all statutory responsibilities and will continue its oversight of these programs.” The Q and A also indicates that states "will continue receiving all title formula funds — including those that support low-income students, teachers, academic enrichment, and after-school programs. States will now receive these funds from DOL.” A timeline on implementation has not yet been announced.

The following USDE offices will be subject to these agreements:

• Labor – Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

• Labor – Office of Postsecondary Education

• Interior – Indian Education

• State – International and Foreign Language Education

• HHS – Child Care Access

• HHS – Foreign Medical Accreditation

  
  

Virtually all major language education programs housed currently by the Department of Education will be impacted.

Programs moving to Department of Labor:

• Title I, Part C: Education of Migratory Children

• Title II, Part A: Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants

• Title III, Part A: English Language Acquisition State Grants

• Title IV, Part A, Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE)

• Teacher Quality Partnership Grant

  
  

Programs moving to the Department of the Interior (Q and A):

• Indian Education Grants to LEAs

• Special Programs for Indian Children - Indian Education Professional Development Grant Program (PD)

• Special Programs for Indian Children - Demonstration Grants (DEMO)

• State Tribal Education Partnership Program (STEP)

• Native American and Alaska Native Language Program (NALED)

• Native American Language Resource Center Program (NALRC)

• Alaska Native Education Program (ANEP)

• Native Hawaiian Education Program (NHEP) and the Native Hawaiian EducationCouncil

• Native American and Alaska Native Children in School (NAM) Program

  
  

Programs moving to the Department of State — all IFLE programs including (Q and A):

• American Overseas Research Centers (AORC)

• Business and International Education (BIE) Program

• Centers for International Business Education (CIBE)

• Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships

• International Research and Studies (IRS) Program

• Language Resource Centers (LRC) Program

• National Resource Centers (NRC) Program

• Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language (UISFL) Program

• Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowships

• Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad (FRA) Fellowships

• Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) Program

• Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program

  
  

The redistribution of core functions of the Department of Education announced today carries significant implications for federal oversight, continuity of services, and equitable access to learning pathways including language programs that support academic achievement, workforce development, and national security.

“Today’s decision is not simply a bureaucratic restructuring, its consequences will be felt in classrooms, communities, and futures. Fragmenting essential education functions threatens continuity, accountability, and the rights of learners across the nation to access the full range of learning, including language education that prepares them for careers and active successful participation as globally ready changemakers,” said Amanda Seewald, JNCL-NCLIS Executive Director.

The Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL-NCLIS) represents a national coalition of education, business, and nonprofit organizations committed to ensuring that every learner in the United States has access to high-quality language education. JNCL-NCLIS calls for transparency, legislative oversight, and the protection of learner rights as this transition unfolds and continues to work with coalition partners and legislative offices to stand up for the right to a comprehensive and consistent educational experience for all learners that includes and centers the importance of language learning.