English Language Acquisition State Grants

The Department makes awards to States and outlying areas using a formula based on their share of ELs and immigrant children and youth. State educational agencies (SEAs) must use at least 95 percent of their allocations to award subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to assist ELs in learning English and meeting challenging State academic standards, and for subgrants to LEAs that have experienced a significant increase in the number of immigrant children and youth. The immigrant subgrants cannot exceed 15 percent of the SEA's total allocation. SEAs may reserve up to 5 percent of their allocations for the establishment and implementation of statewide entrance and exit procedures for ELs, planning, evaluation, professional development activities, technical assistance and recognition. From the amount it reserves for those State activities, SEAs may reserve 50 percent of that amount or $175,000, whichever is greater, for direct administrative costs. Subgrantees must use funds to increase the English proficiency of ELs by providing effective language instruction educational programs that will increase ELs, English proficiency and achievement in the core academic subjects. Subgrantees must also provide effective professional development to teachers and other educational personnel that is designed to improve instruction and assessment of ELs designed to enhance teachers' ability to understand and use curricula, assessment measures, and instructional strategies for ELs, designed to increase ELs English proficiency or substantially increase teachers' subject matter content knowledge and skills; and is of sufficient intensity and duration to have a positive and lasting impact on teachers' performance in the classroom. Funds may also be used for a variety of allowable activities aimed at increasing the English proficiency of ELs and helping ELs meet the challenging State academic standards, including identifying, acquiring, and upgrading curricula, instructional materials, educational software, and assessment procedures, providing tutorials and academic or career and technical education and intensified instruction providing community participation programs, family literacy services and parent outreach and training activities improving instruction for ELs with disabilities; and offering early college high school or dual or concurrent enrollment programs. Subgrantees awarded funds based on a significant increase in the number of immigrant children and youth must use the funds to provide activities that provide enhanced instructional opportunities, which may include providing family literacy and outreach activities; recruiting staff with expertise in serving immigrant children and youth; providing tutorials, mentoring, and career counseling; and identifying, developing, and acquiring curricular materials, educational software, and technologies for the purpose of supporting immigrant children and youth. This program is subject to non-supplanting requirements (with respect to State, local, and other Federal funds) and grantees must use a restricted indirect cost rate, which is referenced under 34 CFR 76.564-76.569. For assistance, call the Office of Chief Financial Officer/Indirect Cost Group on (202) 708-7770.