foreign language assistance program the foreign language assistance program (flap) is a...
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Promises?
Kisses and Hugs
Stormy Weather
Foreign Language Assistance ProgramThe Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) is a discretionary grant program funded under Title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. FLAP provides 3-year grants to establish, improve, or expand innovative foreign language programs for elementary and secondary school students. FLAP also provides grants to state education agencies to promote systemic approaches to improving foreign language learning in the state. In recent years, Congress has set aside roughly 30% of FLAP funds for 5-year grants to local education agencies that work in partnership with institutions of higher education to establish or expand articulated programs of study in languages critical to U.S. national security. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students (OELA).Action Needed : We urge Congress to provide FY 2011 funding of $32 million for the Foreign Language Assistance Program, as recommended by the Coalition for International Education (CIE). This level constitutes roughly a $5 million increase over FY 2010. Additional funding is needed to encourage more effective K-12 foreign language programs, especially at the elementary levels, as well as partnerships with institutions of higher education. As a dedicated, federal funding stream for K-12 foreign language education, this program addresses a national need to foster skill sets supporting U.S. security and global economic competitiveness.Current funding status : FLAP is funded at $26.9 million in the current fiscal year (FY 2010). For FY 2011, the Obama Administration has proposed to eliminate FLAP as an individually funded program and instead consolidate it into a new authority called “Effective Teaching and Learning for a Well-Rounded Education” along with seven other programs in economics, history, civic education and the arts. FLAP is funded under the Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.
Corbett takes ax to education spending
Public schools face 8.8 percent cut and teachers would see pay freeze, with future raises tied to performance.
March 08, 2011|By Steve Esack and John L. Micek, OF THE MORNING CALL
Deep cuts in subsidies. Even stricter limits on tax hikes. Pay freezes. Vouchers. More lessons on abstinence.
Those are some of the ways Republican Gov. Tom Corbett plans to overhaul public schools and higher education funding in ways that are far less costly to the state than under his Democratic predecessor, Ed Rendell.
In his first budget address Tuesday, Corbett proposed rolling back the basic education subsidy by 8.8 percent to 2008-09 levels and gutting higher education funding by more than 50 percent.
This week's assignmentThis week, we need to generate handwritten letters on two bills that authorize school districts to furlough employees for economic reasons - without regard for seniority.Please go to www.psea.org/buildingreps to find a letter on economic furloughs that you can print, copy, and distribute to your colleagues in your building. Encourage them to use the text in the letter, handwrite letters to their state senators and representatives, and mail them.At PSEA's Legislative Action Center, you will find the names and addresses of state legislators in your area.
Please ask members to send letters THIS WEEK. These letters matter. And they do make a difference.
PSEA:
From: Kutch, Lynn <[email protected]>To: CENTRALPA-AATG <[email protected]>Sent: Thu, Apr 14, 2011 11:39 amSubject: Here we go again! Easton Area SD Budget
Dear Central PA Members,
Part of the Easton Area SD's (the district where I live) budget "plan" is to cut over 150 teachers, mostly in the humanities (music, art, language), and to cut all world languages except Spanish. Easton has a wonderful world languages department, where they currently offer German, French, Latin, Japanese, Italian and Spanish. If you have a letter of protest ready to go, or you can craft one, please send it to Susan McGinley, Superintendent, and Mr Kerry Myers, School Board president. Let them know this is a short-sighted (and not very globally minded) plan. [email protected]@eastonsd.org This link lists emails for all school board members. http://www.eastonsd.org/boe/members.htm
The next workshop is on Monday, April 18, at 7 pm. The next board meeting is the following Monday, April 25, at 7 pm. Please make every effort to attend one of these meetings. We would like to be sure we have representation at both meetings so please respond to this email to let us know which meeting you are able to attend.
PSEA has requested all local associations to participate in several May events to support changes to the Governor's budget. Information will be coming out in the next few days about these events and how you can participate.
On May 5th the team will meet with the board to continue contract negotiations.
Scott Spatz, Jim Gingrich, Brad Biehl, Russ Edmonds, Mary Zeplin
Antietam Education Association ( no contract since July 2010)
Confused
Frustrated
Baffled
Ready to give up
Support
What’s good?
German is #3 in most states / overall in US
7 – 12th - +8% 400,000 students – public
schools only + 80 Sprachschule / 17
PASCH AP +11% increase Colleges / universities -
+2.2%
What’s not?
BA degrees 1616 (1990) – 1085 (2008) – perhaps not duel majors
Big $ to STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)
Fewer German programs / more students (!)
What to do?
Continue to be proactive Be visible Attend school functions Be active in the community Support local businesses Keep in touch with former
students and their parents Be the Best Engage native speakers through
community or exchange programs
Articulate between middle / high school and post secondary
Attend parent information nights
Serve as school leader (department chairperson, union representative, club advisor, sport coach)
Contact international businesses for visits to classes or administrative meetings open to the public
Check out the advocacy page at aatg.org
How about… if / when…
Write letters – parents, former students, school board, local businesses, local organizations
Basic Facts for a Letter of Supporthttp://www.aatg.org/media/SupportLetter.dochttp://www.aatg.org/media/SupportLetter.pdf
Make phone calls Send emails Contact aatg.org – local chapter,
regional representative, headquarters
Not just then / but now
Reasons for studying German German and your career Opportunities to use language Famous speakers of German Current films / music groups Germany’s relevance in the world Pro-Deutsch Binder/PDF
Flaunt it….
Tell what you do Post pictures of events Share positives with
community Thank everyone when good
things happen – give them credit – They know you did it.
Continue promoting German Be humble / with pride
Sample Letters
Shoot for
the stars !
Soar with the
Eagles!
Promises?
Hugs, Kisses, and Support