The "World Language Education Assistance Program Act" aims to improve access to world language programs and dual language programs in schools.
Jennifer Kiggans
Representative
VA-2
The "World Language Education Assistance Program Act" aims to address the language skills crisis in America by establishing a grant program to create, improve, and implement world language and dual language programs in schools. These grants will support professional development for teachers, partnerships with community-based language schools, and innovative language immersion programs. The act prioritizes programs that demonstrate language proficiency growth, can be replicated, and have a sustainability plan, with the goal of equipping students with the language skills needed for a globalized world. The act authorizes \$15,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each subsequent fiscal year to carry out this section.
New Bill Aims to Boost Language Skills in Schools with $15M Annual Fund: Focus on Dual-Language and World Language Programs
The "World Language Education Assistance Program Act" (or "World LEAP Act," if you're into catchy acronyms) is all about getting more kids fluent in languages other than English. This bill sets up a grant program to help schools start or improve their world language and dual-language programs, backed by $15,000,000 every year starting in 2026 (SEC. 5).
Getting Schooled in New Tongues
This bill isn't just throwing money at the problem – it's got a plan. Local Education Agencies (LEAs) can apply for these 3-year grants to either kickstart new language programs or boost existing ones (SEC. 5). Think of it as a competitive scholarship, but for schools. What does this mean on the ground? Imagine a school in rural Kentucky starting a Mandarin Chinese program, or a school with many Spanish-speaking families in Texas enhancing its dual-language curriculum to better serve both native English and Spanish speakers.
Real-World Ready
The whole point here is to make sure students are ready for a world where knowing another language is a major plus. The bill specifically calls out the need for Americans to step up their language game to compete globally (SEC. 3). It's not just about ordering tacos in Spanish; it's about negotiating deals, understanding different cultures, and, you know, having a leg up in the job market. For instance, a student from a community-based heritage language school (defined in SEC. 4) could get support to become a certified language teacher, bringing their unique skills back to the classroom.
Prioritizing the Right Stuff
Not all programs are created equal. The Secretary of Education will be looking closely at applications, prioritizing those that (SEC. 5):
- Show real progress in language skills from kindergarten to 12th grade.
- Have a solid plan to keep going after the grant money runs out.
- Include professional development for teachers (because even teachers need to learn).
- Partner with community groups, like those heritage language schools.
- Offer immersion programs, even for English learners.
Show Me the Money (and the Results)
At least 20% of the grant money must be used for training and certifying teachers and paraprofessionals (SEC. 5). Up to 5% can be used to check if the program is actually working. And within 18 months, schools need to report back on how things are going – how many students are enrolled, how many bilingual educators they have, and what the community thinks (SEC. 5). No throwing numbers into the void; this is about seeing what works and sharing it.
This bill recognizes a simple truth: language skills are crucial. Whether you're a construction worker dealing with international suppliers, a nurse communicating with patients from diverse backgrounds, or a software engineer collaborating with a global team, knowing another language is a serious advantage. And for English learners, it's about making sure they have every opportunity to succeed.