Funding English Learning Education: Making the Most of Policy and Budget Levers

Budgeting for equity in schools is critical for realizing the promise of equal opportunity for all students in the United States. As school systems navigate the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to prioritize English Learners (ELs), and their unique learning needs. Title III of the Every Student Succeeds Act is an important source of funding for ELs but not the only one, as the potential sources of funding are complex. "Funding English Learning Education: Making the Most of Policy and Budget Levers,” written by Julie Sugarman of the Migration Policy Institute, outlines how actors at the federal, state and local level, including Congress, the U.S. Department of Education, state education agencies, districts and schools, and community members, can ensure adequate funding for EL education. The brief also explains how budget and policy mechanisms can be used to support ELs in ways such as increasing Title III funding, accessing unrestricted recovery funds, creating a system for effectively measuring service provision, creating partnerships with health and human services organizations, and participating in efforts to evaluate state funding. Ensuring the educational success of ELs, a diverse and growing student population, is a key requirement for a more equitable future. (The Immigration Learning Center’s Public Education Institute)