Public foreign language programs may now be cut or eliminated because of education budget cuts to the Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP), the only source of federal funding for K-12 foreign language programs. This is the second blow to our future global competitiveness. Higher education spending for foreign languages (Title VI) has already been reduced by $50 million, a 40 percent reduction from the previous year.
I wrote to my Congressional representative, Michael Honda, and was happy to get a response stating his support for FLAP. Rep. Honda was a Peace Corps volunteer in Central America and he speaks fluent Spanish.
Write to your Congressional representative to secure financial support for elementary , middle school and high school foreign language education. The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) has an advocacy campaign for you to contact your Congressional Representatives and Senators to protect funding for FLAP.
**** Note from Dept of Education website in September 2018:
FUNDING FOR THE FLAP PROGRAM ELIMINATED IN 2012
UPDATE NOTICE: FUNDING FOR THE FLAP PROGRAM WAS ELIMINATED IN THE FINAL FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2012 BUDGET ENACTED BY CONGRESS. THERE IS NO 2012 NEW COMPETITION AND NO CONTINUED FUNDING FOR CURRENT GRANTEES.
That’s what they did in the early 90’s in California bi-lingual school’s closed down in the entire state. u00a0I was fortunate enough to be able to attend before it the whole system went crumbling down!! It’s a shame areal shame!!