(The Center Square) − One week prior to end of President Joe Biden’s administration, the U.S. Department of Education awarded Louisiana a total of $5.2 million in grants under Title III, aimed at enhancing language instruction for students with limited English proficiency and immigrant youth.
These funds are designated to help Louisiana school districts provide additional educational support to immigrant and limited English proficiency students, ensuring they meet challenging state standards.
The money will be allocated to various districts, with significant portions going to parishes including Jefferson, Lafayette and Calcasieu. Jefferson Parish was awarded over $221,000, while Lafayette Parish will receive more than $38,000 to enhance language instruction.
One of the approved grants was to Rosenwald Collegiate Academy in New Orleans. The charter school will receive nearly $28,000 to assist in teaching English to non-native speakers. In total, New Orleans received $63,667.
The grant is part of the federal government’s ongoing effort to support English language acquisition programs across the nation.
Funding for the program increased substantially and steadily after 2017. The most recent grant awards for the 2025 school year total of $5.21 million.
In 2017, Louisiana received just $308,304. The following year, the grants climbed into the millions of dollars, to $3.3 million in 2018, followed by $3.44 million in 2019. In 2020, the total reached $3.76 million.
When the Biden administration took office, the funding continued to climb.
The funding amounts have steadily risen from 2021, when the state was awarded $3.99 million, and 2022, which saw an allocation of $4.28 million. Awards in 2023 increased another $430,000. Last year, Louisiana received $5.03 million.
During the Biden administration, the total funding increased by more than $1.4 million, a 37% rise.
As part of the program, districts receiving funds are required to focus on activities that improve instructional opportunities for immigrant children and youth. The total funding, allocated based on a two-year increase in the number of limited English proficient students, will help these districts meet the educational needs of a growing diverse student population.
The grants come with stipulations for financial transparency, with all recipients subject to audits by the Louisiana Department of Education, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office and other relevant federal and state agencies. These grants are part of the broader federal efforts to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have access to high-quality education.
The grants are effective through the 2024-2025 school year, with performance periods extending through 2026.