State Funding Connecticut

STATE FUNDING:

Connecticut Supports Education & World Languages

ThefollowinginformationhighlightshowConnecticutchampionsK-12 educationandbeyondaswellaspotentialfundingsourcestosupport worldlanguageinitiatives.

AmericaRescuePlan(ARP)ESSER:

Depending on the State and whether its Department of Education formally requested an extension from the U.S. Department of Education, school districts may extend the spending timelines to April 2026 to complete a project. However, funds still must be allocated by September 30, 2024. Because ARP ESSER may fund any activity authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), it can fund world language programs. Connecticut has been allocated $1.1 billion in total ARP ESSER funds.

Learn more about how this state is using these funds on the Connecticut State Department of Education ARP ESSER webpage found here.

BipartisanSaferCommunitiesAct (BSCA)and21stCenturyCommunity LearningCenters(21stCCLC):

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) was signed into law last year, which provides funds to support States and school districts in designing initiatives to promote safer, more inclusive, and positive school environments. While most of this funding is dedicated to safer and healthier learning environments, the BSCA also directs an additional $50 million to the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program.

The 21st CCLC program funds academic enrichment activities during non-school hours including before and after school as well as summer.

Programs typically include tutoring, literacy, and other core subjects along with youth development activities, prevention programs, the arts, technology and so forth. This additional funding focuses on after school and summer learning programs for middle and high school students. The 21st CCLC program may offer a way to include world language programs and activities if it can be linked to non-school hours.

Learn more about Connecticut’s 21st CCLC program here.

TitleIV,PartAStudentSupportand AcademicEnrichmentProgram:

This fund uniquely increases the capacity of states, local education agencies (LEAs), schools, and local communities to (1) provide all students with access to a wellrounded education, (2) improve school conditions for student learning, and (3) improve the use of technology to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students. Budgets must align with the following formula: at least 20% for Well Rounded Education (WRE), at least 20% for Safe and Healthy Schools (SHS), and some portion for Effective Use of Technology (EUT). LEAs may spend no more than 15% of EUT funds on technology infrastructure purchases. World languages is an approved activity included under WRE.

Learn more about Connecticut’s Title IV, Part A program here.

WorldLanguageAdvancementand ReadinessProgram(WLARP):

As part of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), discretionary grants are awarded to establish, improve, or expand elementary and secondary school world language offerings. Grant funding is typically awarded for five years. The amount of funding can vary but ranges from a minimum of $500,000 to a maximum of $2 million. According to the DoDEA, local public-school districts across the United States that have at least one school with a 10% military-connected student population, are eligible to apply for the competitive DoDEA Grant Program.

For more information to help plan for the next funding cycle, use this link to Grants.gov.

FoundationGrants:

Although world languages may not be explicitly included in a foundation’s listed funding goals, it is important to note that funding opportunities can still exist through engagement with individual donors associated with the organization.

Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut: “The Community Foundation is here to bring people together to work towards a healthy, thriving, sustainable Eastern Connecticut. We do this by putting philanthropy into action to address the needs, rights, and interests of our region, while fulfilling the passions of our donors.”

Learn more about the Foundation’s initiatives and funding available here.

Connecticut Community Foundation: “Established in 1923, Connecticut Community Foundation was created by and for the people of Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills. While serving this 21-town region, the Foundation works to address the community’s critical issues, funds programs benefiting local residents, supports efforts to improve systems to foster more equitable outcomes for residents, strengthens local organizations through learning and outreach, and works with individuals, families, and corporations to steward charitable and scholarship funds.”

Use this link for more information about focus areas, deadlines, and the application process.

Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation: “NCCF is a Community Foundation, a tax-exempt public charity that enables donors to establish funds that support the work of local nonprofits through grants and provide scholarships to local students.” The following communities supported by NCCF are listed here. Reach out to the Foundation to learn more about the grant application process and funding areas here.

Ion Bank Foundation: Grant opportunities are offered twice per year (April and September) with education as one of the funding priorities. According to its website, schools are eligible to apply along with area nonprofits, but applications must include a signed letter of support from the principal.

Schools must be in one of the following areas: Middlebury, Southbury, Watertown, or Woodbury.

Requests must fall in the $1,000-$10,000 range. For more information, please use this link.

The Grantsmanship Center: Publishes a list of prescreened foundations and corporations with active giving programs in your state. See Connecticut’s list of foundations here and the corporate giving programs list here.

Exclusivetohighereducation:

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE) office administers programs that strengthen foreign language instruction, area/international studies teaching and research, professional development for educators, and curriculum development at the K-12, graduate, and postsecondary levels.

Title VI programs offer domestic grants to institutions of higher education to develop and maintain capacity and performance in area/international studies and world languages.

Fulbright-Hays programs provide overseas funding to current and prospective U.S. educators to participate in advanced overseas study and research.

Learn more about these higher education programs here.