IDRA Federal Advocacy Action Alert – June 27, 2025
The U.S. Department of Education has several core functions, including distributing funding appropriated by Congress, particularly for programs designed to level the playing field for all children and ensure fair access to education. These federal funds help public schools to serve all students, including English learners.
Much of the federal funding for English learner students flows through programs authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Often referred to as “Title III funds,” these monies are used by states and school districts to improve the academic achievement, including English language attainment, of English learner students.
Congress appropriated about $890 million for Title III for fiscal year 2025, but – unlike previous years – states have not yet been notified about their allocations, threatening the usual July 1 timeline for awards.
Failing to notify states and school districts about federal funds makes budget planning extremely difficult. And, withholding the funds would threaten the academic achievement and overall success of English learner students, who make up more than 10% of students in U.S. K-12 schools.
Specifically, Title III funds are used by states and school districts to:
- develop standardized protocols and technical assistance for language programs,
- support professional development for educators, and
- strengthen language instructional programs, academic supports, and supplemental activities for English learner students and their families.
Contact your member of Congress!
These funds also help to support national programs that provide services and supports to schools across the country to serve the more than 5 million English learners in U.S. public schools.
You can act now to protect English learner students and ensure public schools across the country receive the funding they need to serve all students. Contact your members of Congress and share information with your networks about the importance of Title III funds for public schools. We must demand that the 2025 funds be released to school districts immediately.
The National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) has compiled the resources below here.
- Sample letter for you to contact members of Congress
- Call and email scripts for you to contact members of Congress
- Information for contacting members of Congress
- Information for contacting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
- Information for contacting the Department of Education
Other Helpful Resources
This report from the Migration Policy Institute provides an overview of federal funding sources for public schools to serve English learner students: Funding English Learner Education: Making the Most of Policy and Budget Levers.
These state-by-state factsheets created by the American Federation for Teachers (AFT) detail how much funding your state receives from the U.S. Department of Education for particular K-12 and higher education programs.
This table from the National Education Association (NEA) provides information on how much funding each state stands to lose for English learners, students with disabilities, poor children, Pell grants, and career and technical education grants should certain funding administered by the Department of Education be eliminated.
This IDRA & Every Texan report provides an overview of bilingual education programs in Texas, including a background of funding and policy recommendations for improving outcomes for English learner students.
For more information about IDRA’s work to support English learners, see our resources here or contact Morgan Craven, J.D., IDRA’s National Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Community Engagement at morgan.craven@idra.org.