Title III, Part A (English Learners and Immigrant Children and Youth)

English Learners and Immigrant Youth (ESEA Sec. 3102)

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) provides statewide leadership in promoting high quality education for English Learners (EL) and Immigrant youth. 

Title III grants are awarded to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) to:

• help ensure that English Learners, including immigrant children and youth, attain English proficiency and develop high levels of academic achievement in English;
• assist all English Learners, including immigrant children and youth, to achieve at high levels in academic subjects so that all English Learners can meet the same challenging State academic standards that all children are expected to meet;
• assist teachers, principals and other school leaders, and LEAs to develop and enhance their capacity to provide effective instructional programs designed to prepare English Learners, including immigrant children and youth, to enter all-English instructional settings; and
• promote parental, family, and community participation in language instruction educational programs for the parents, families, and communities of English Learners.

Definition of an English Learner (EL) ESEA Sec. 8101(20)

According to the ESEA, an EL is an individual:

• Who is aged 3-21;
• Who is enrolled or preparing to enroll in an elementary or secondary school;
• Who was not born in the United States OR whose native language is a language other than English; and
• Where difficulties in speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language may be sufficient to deny the individual:
  • The ability in meeting the State’s proficient level of achievement on State assessments described in section  1111(b)(3)
  • The ability to successfully achieve in classrooms where the language of instruction is English; and
  • The opportunity to participate fully in society.

Definition of Immigrant ESEA Sec. 3201(5)

According to the ESEA, an Immigrant:

• is ages 3 through 21;
• was not born in any state or U.S. territory; and
• has not been attending one or more schools in any one or more states for more than three full academic years.

Definition of a Refugee

According to U.S. Department of Education’s Newcomer Tool Kit (2016), a refugee is an individual who has fled his or her country of origin because of past persecution or a fear of future persecution based upon race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

ESEA Title III Program funds must be used to:

• upgrade program objectives and effective instructional strategies; Sec. 3115(d)(1);
• improve the instructional program for ELs by identifying, acquiring, and upgrading curricula, instructional materials, educational software, and assessment procedures; Sec. 3115(d)(2);
• provide tutorials and academic or vocational education for ELs; Sec. 3115(d)(3)(A)
• develop and implement elementary school or secondary school language instruction educational programs that are coordinated with other relevant programs and services; Sec. 3115(d)(4);
• provide intensified instruction, which may include materials in a language that the student can understand, interprets, and translate; Sec. 3115(d)(3)(B);
• improve the English proficiency and academic achievement of ELs; Sec. 3115(d)(5);
• provide community participation programs, family literacy services, and parent outreach and training activities to ELs and their families; Sec. 3115(d)(6)(A);
• assist parents in helping their children to improve their academic achievement and become active participants in the education of their children; Sec. 3115(d)(6)(B);
• improve the instruction of ELs by providing for the acquisition or development of educational technology or instructional materials and access to electronic networks for materials, training, and communication; Sec. 3115(d)(7);
• offer early college high school programs/courses designed to help English learners achieve success in postsecondary education Sec. 3115(d)(8); and
• carry out other activities that are consistent with the programs Sec. 3115(d)(9).

Supplement not Supplant

Federal funds made available under Title III shall be used so as to supplement the level of Federal, State, and local public funds that, in the absence of such availability, would have been expended for programs for limited English proficient children and immigrant children and youth and in no case to supplant such Federal, State, and local public funds. Sec. 3115(g);