A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Biennial Evaluation Report - FY 93-94

Chapter 135

Foreign Languages Assistance

(CFDA No. 84.249)

I. Program Profile

Legislation: Title II, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 3001-3006) (expires September 30, 1994).

Purpose: The Foreign Languages Assistance program, funded for the first time in 1991, provides assistance to State education agencies (SEAs) to improve the quantity and quality of instruction in foreign languages deemed critical to the economic and security interests of the United States.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Appropriation
1991 $ 4,880,000
1992 10,000,000
1993 10,912,000
1994 10,912,000

II. Program Information and Analysis

Population Targeting

This program is available to all States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Outlying Areas. Funds are distributed on the basis of the population of children ages 5-17; however, no State receives less than 0.5 percent of this remainder. From the total amount appropriated, one percent is allotted to the Outlying Areas.

Services

To receive a grant, each State must submit an application detailing model programs to be funded. Projects are administered by local education agencies (LEAs) and are selected competitively at the State level. Model programs must be in any of five critical foreign languages: Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Arabic, and Korean. However, if a State can satisfactorily demonstrate that it lacks the capability to fund projects in any of those five languages, and would thus be unable to participate in the program, the Secretary may grant a waiver allowing the State to support projects in one or more of the following alternate languages: French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Program Administration

A 50 percent matching requirement must be met from non-Federal public or private sources at either the State or local level. If sufficient hardship is demonstrated, the Secretary may issue a waiver of the matching requirement. LEAs must conduct valid and reliable periodic evaluations of their programs.

This is a forward-funded program. Funds are available for obligation from July 1 of the fiscal year for which they are appropriated through September 30 of the following year.

III. Sources of Information

  1. Program files.

IV. Planned Studies

None.

V. Contacts for Further Information

Program Operations:
Doris Crudup, (202) 260-2521

Program Studies:
Brenda Long, (202) 401-1958

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[School Dropout Demonstration Assistance Program] [Table of Contents] [Bilingual Education Programs--Discretionary Grants to Local Education Agencies--Part A]