Sec. 209. English for speakers of other languages
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/bill/113/hr/5294/ih/section-209A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of Education is authorized to provide grants to eligible entities for the provision of English as a second language (hereafter referred to as ESL ) instruction and shall determine, after consultation with appropriate stakeholders, the mechanism for administering and distributing such grants. For purposes of this section, the term eligible entity means a State or community-based organization that employs, and serves, minority populations. An eligible entity may apply for a grant under this section by submitting such information as the Secretary may require and in such form and manner as the Secretary may require.
As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall— develop and implement a plan for assuring the availability of ESL instruction that effectively integrates information about the nature of the United States health care system, how to access care, and any special language skills that may be required for them to access and regularly negotiate the system effectively; develop a plan, including, where appropriate, public-private partnerships, for making ESL instruction progressively available to all individuals seeking instruction; and maintain current ESL instruction efforts by using the additional funds to supplement rather than supplant any funds expended for ESL instruction in the State as of January 1, 2015.
The Secretary of Education shall— collect and publicize annual data on how much Federal, State, and local governments spend on ESL instruction; collect data from State and local governments to identify the unmet needs of English language learners for appropriate ESL instruction, including— the preferred written and spoken language of such English language learners; the extent of waiting lists including how many programs maintain waiting lists and, for programs that do not have waiting lists, the reasons why not; the availability of programs to geographically isolated communities; the impact of course enrollment policies, including open enrollment, on the availability of ESL instruction; the number individuals in the State and each participating locality; the effectiveness of the instruction in meeting the needs of individuals receiving instruction and those needing instruction; as assessment of the need for programs that integrate job training and ESL instruction, to assist individuals to obtain better jobs; and the availability of ESL slots by State and locality; determine the cost and most appropriate methods of making ESL instruction available to all English language learners seeking instruction; and within 1 year of the date of enactment of this Act, issue a report to Congress that assesses the information collected in paragraphs (1), (2), and
(3)and makes recommendations on steps that should be taken to progressively realize the goal of making ESL instruction available to all English language learners seeking instruction. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Education for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2018 $250,000,000 to carry out this section.