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ALL ABOUT
FLAP!
The
Foreign Language
Assistance Program (FLAP) is
one of the largest federal sources of
funding for foreign language programs
in U.S. schools. The projects are funded
on both the Local and State Education
Agency (LEA and SEA) levels. According
to the Department of Education, The
LEA program
"provides
grants to establish, improve, or expand
innovative foreign language programs for
elementary and secondary school
students. In awarding grants under this
program, the secretary of education
supports projects that: (a) show the
promise of being continued beyond their
project period and (b) demonstrate
approaches that can be disseminated and
duplicated by other LEAs." Similarly,
the SEA program
"provides grants to establish, improve,
or expand innovative foreign language
programs for elementary and secondary
school students. In awarding grants
under this program, the secretary of
education supports projects that promote
systemic approaches to improving foreign
language learning in the state."
For additional information about FLAP,
please visit
NCELA.
Two
political processes affect the future of
the Foreign Language Assistance Program:
appropriations and reauthorization.
Appropriations
FY 2010 funding for the FLAP program is
$26.9 million dollars.
For more information, please visit the
JNCL-NCLIS Appropriations page.
Reauthorization of Elementary and
Secondary Education (ESEA)
The House/Senate Education Conference
Committee approved the final version of
the education bill, H.R. 1, Leave No
Child Behind on December 11, 2001. H.R.1
provides for sweeping reforms in
elementary and secondary education.
There is good news for the foreign
language and international education
community. FLAP is included in the final
Conference Report. FLAP is now a part of
Title V - Promoting Informed Parental
Choice and Innovative Programs, Section
D - Fund for the Improvement of
Education. FLAP is no longer included
with Bilingual Education, which is now
consolidated into one block grant.
There is an addition to the FLAP
program, the Foreign Language Incentive
Program (FLIP). FLIP was a part of FLAP
in the early 1990's but was not included
the last time ESEA was reauthorized.
Under this program:
The Secretary shall make an incentive
payment for each fiscal year to each
public elementary school that provides
to students attending such school a
program designed to lead to
communicative competency in a foreign
language.
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