Across the United States, school districts are facing the mounting impact of delayed Title III federal funding, which is specifically allocated to support English learners (ELs) and immigrant students. While delays may stem from complex administrative processes, shifting priorities, or budget bottlenecks, the consequences are concrete and immediate, affecting students, educators, and families in every region of the country.

What Is Title III?

Title III is part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), reauthorized under ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act). It is designed to ensure that English learners attain English proficiency and meet challenging academic standards. It also provides support for immigrant students and their families as they transition into U.S. school systems.

This funding helps districts provide:

• Targeted English language instruction
• Bilingual staff and translation services
• Family engagement and educational outreach
• Teacher training in ESL strategies
• Supplemental learning programs and materials

Nationwide Impact of Title III Funding Delays

• Thousands of districts across the country are reporting significant delays in receiving their Title III allocations.
• This disrupts essential services for over 5 million English learners enrolled in U.S. public schools.
• Delays are affecting urban, suburban, and rural communities alike, disproportionately impacting immigrant, low-income, and multilingual households.
• Many school systems have been forced to:
• Lay off support staff
• Pause after-school language programs
• Cancel community-based contracts
• Suspend family outreach and newcomer services

Real-World Consequences

When Title III funds are delayed, schools lose the ability to:

• Provide consistent English language instruction
• Communicate effectively with non-English speaking families
• Hire and retain bilingual educators
• Offer culturally responsive programs
• Support academic achievement among multilingual learners

These delays deepen existing educational inequities and leave our most linguistically diverse learners behind.

Nationwide Call to Action

Regardless of where you live or work, the need for a timely and transparent funding process is urgent. Here’s how you can help:

• Stay informed about Title III and your local district’s use of these funds.
• Advocate for timely disbursement of federal funds through letters, public comment, or meetings with local, state, and federal leaders.
• Support nonprofit and community groups that continue serving immigrant and EL students in the absence of funding.
• Collaborate with educators and administrators to identify creative, interim solutions while awaiting funds.
• Elevate the voices of families and educators affected by delays, share their stories and center their needs.

Moving Forward

This is not about politics, it’s about priorities. English learners are one of the fastest-growing student populations in the country. When systems fall short, these students and their families feel the brunt of it first. A delay in funding is a delay in opportunity.

Let’s ensure our commitment to educational equity is more than just a promise by urging swift action, accountability, and continued support for the programs that give every child a fair chance to succeed.