December 2008 ::

December 30, 2008

2008 JNCL Executive Summary

From J. David Edwards:

Happy Holidays! Attached is the final JNCL-NCLIS Executive Summary for 2008. To quote that brilliant bard, Frank Sinatra, "It was a very good year." As you can see, nationally many bills were considered and a number passed, including a new Higher Education Act, providing support for languages and language education; federal funding for Congress and international education increased in 2008; and some new and revised ideas for national language policies surfaced and were discussed.

Download JNCL Executive Summary To learn more about JNCL, visit their web site at: www.languagepolicy.org

December 18, 2008

National Strategic Language Initiative for Youth Programs

A new merit-based US Government overseas language program for American high school students will fund approximately 550 students during 2009 and 2010. The National Strategic Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y), is funded by the Department of State’s Educational and Cultural Affairs Youth Programs Division and is being implemented by a consortium of organizations led by the American Councils for International Education. Learn more »

December 04, 2008

ACTFL Discusses Foreign Language Policy with President-Elect Obama Transition Team

In preparing for briefing President-elect Obama and his nominee for Secretary of Education on education issues, the Obama Transition Team contacted ACTFL recently for input on language education priorities and initiatives. ACTFL provided them with background information about the various federal language programs and the priorities that need to be addressed. “They have our legislative priorities position statement and are preparing a ‘roadmap’ of education programs for the incoming administration. We are hopeful that languages will play an important role in any education policies that President-Elect Obama pursues,” said ACTFL Executive Director Bret Lovejoy. The President-elect likely will announce his choice for Secretary of Education in the next couple of week