Responded by: Libia S. Gil (Senior Advisor, National High School Center)

Although there is no targeted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding to address the needs of English Language Learners (ELLs) at the high school level, there are opportunities for addressing such needs primarily embedded within the $13 billion infusion of the ARRA funds being funneled through the Title I program.

There are many interrelated programs and funds in the Recovery Act, however, the key stimulus investments related to Education are:

• State Fiscal Stabilization Fund: $53.6B+ Policy Assurances
• State Incentive:  $4.35B
• Local Innovation: $650M
• State Data Systems:  $259M
• Teacher Incentive Fund:  $200M
• Teacher Quality Partnerships:  $100M
• School Improvement:  $3B
• Pell Grants: $17.1B
• American Opportunity Tax Credit:  $13.8B
• Head Start/Early Head Start:  $2.1B
• Labor Programs:  $1.5B

A recent guide published “ARRA: Recommendations for Addressing the Needs of English Language Learners” by D. August, K. Hakuta, and J. O’Day, April 2009 provides an overview of needs and useful strategies for funding support to meet the needs of ELLs.

Some suggested activities using ARRA Title I funding include:

• Enhancing data collection and reporting systems.
• Identifying and developing appropriate curricula and instructional methods to address both content learning and English Language Development.
• Extending learning time for ELLs and former ELLs who are not succeeding in school.
• Identifying, developing/adapting and purchasing appropriate instructional materials for ELLs.
• Increasing the number of adults to provide instruction including tutors and resource teachers.
• Supporting ELLs at risk of school failure and for drop-out prevention.
• Improving opportunities for engaging parents.

In addition, there is $12.2 billion for formula grants to increase the federal share of special education costs so that other activities using ARRA IDEA funds may be considered:

• Strengthening coordination systems between special education and language support services.
• Purchasing support staff time or contractors to examine placement patterns for ELLs with disabilities.
• Improving information infrastructures to gauge policy impacts on ELLs with disabilities.
• Increasing preparation, recruitment, support and development programs for qualifying special education teachers with expertise in teaching ELLs.

Other funding support can be found:

• $650 million Education Technology Grants available for 21st century classrooms which can be directed to high-poverty schools serving ELLs. 
•  $259 million Statewide Data System provides competitive grants to states to design and develop data systems to enable longitudinal tracking of students including ELL data.
• $300 million Improving Teacher Quality Grants to increase the numbers of qualified English-as-a-Second-Language and bilingual teachers in addition to supporting recruitment and professional development efforts.
• $100 million National Science Foundation to improve instruction in science, math, and engineering.
• $53.6 billion State Fiscal Stabilization Fund  which requires states’ acceptance to meet commitments to:

• Improving teacher effectiveness
• Establishing longitudinal data system
• Enhancing quality of academic assessments and inclusion of students with disabilities and Limited English Proficient (LEP) students
• Improving state academic content standards and student achievement standards
• Ensuring the implementation of corrective action and restructuring low performing schools

ARRA funds are available for two years and it is an opportunity to create a new direction for improving education outcomes and experiences for English Language Learners.