Title III: Language Instruction for English Learners & Immigrant Students
News & Announcements
Guidelines and Procedures
Federal Guidance
- Non-Regulatory Guidance: English Learners and Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- Addendum to September 23, 2016 Non-Regulatory Guidance: English Learners and Title III of the (ESSA)
Civil Rights Compliance
- January 7, 2015 – Joint Release: U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice. Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) – “English Learner Students and Limited English Proficient Parents”
- Ensuring English Learner Students Can Participate Meaningfully and Equally in Educational Programs
- Information for Limited English Proficient (LEP) Parents and Guardians and for Schools and School Districts that Communicate with Them
- Rights of Unaccompanied Children to Enroll in School
- USED Fact Sheet: Information on the Rights of All Children to Enroll in School
- USED Fact Sheet: Educational Services for Immigrant Children and Those Recently Arrived to the United States
- USED Information on the Rights of Unaccompanied Children to Enroll in School and Participate Meaningfully and Equally in Educational Programs
- USED Protecting Access to Education for Unaccompanied Children A Resource for Families and Educators - New June 2023
USED Tool Kits
The English Learner Tool Kit was developed in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights’ and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Dear Colleague Letter “English Learner Students and Limited English Proficient Parents,” published in January 7, 2015. This document outlines SEA and LEA obligations to ELs under civil rights laws and other federal requirements.
- English Learner Toolkit for State and Local Agencies - Chapters 1-10
The Newcomer Toolkit provides discussion of topics relevant to understanding, supporting, and engaging newcomer students and their families. It provides tools, strategies, and examples of classroom and schoolwide practices in action, along with chapter-specific professional learning activities for use in staff meetings or professional learning communities. It provides selected resources for further information and assistance, most of which are available online.
- Newcomer Toolkit - Updated June 2023
- Serving Immigrant Students - DCL - NEW September 6, 2023
The English Learner Family Tool Kit provides support to families of English learners (ELs) in the U.S. education system. Each topic has five parts: Overview, Family and Student Rights, Questions to Ask School Staff, Tips, and Resources.
- English Learner Family Toolkit - Updated 2023
OELA/NCELA Research to support action steps in school divisions. The following links provide tools to facilitate stakeholder discussion on areas such as EL access to advanced coursework and CTE placement, to EL graduation trends and EL content instruction.
- Ensuring Meaningful Participation in Advanced Coursework and Specialized Programs for Students Who Are English Learners - New
- NCELA Fact Sheets on EL Demographics and Trends - New - High School Graduation Rates for ELs
- NCELA Infographics to Support EL - New-EL Educator Shortage
- NCELA Best Practice Briefs - New -Practices to Increase Access to Advanced Coursework and Specialized Programs for Students Who Are English Learners
- NCELA Podcasts - New - Effective Literacy EL Instruction
State Guidance - Code of Virginia
- Definition of school age 22.1-1
- English as the language of instruction § 22.1-212.1
- Identification of limited English proficient students § 22.1-253.13:1. (D)( 12)
- Enrollment of ELLs over age 18 § 22.1-5. (D)
- Funding § 22.1- 199.1 (5)(D)
- Staffing §22.1-253.13:2. (F)
- High Quality Professional Development § 22.1-253.13:5. (E)
VDOE Title III Resources
EL Entrance and Exit Procedures
- Required Entrance Procedures and Criteria for Identifying Potential English Learners Superintendent’s Memo #189-22
- Refugee Student Enrollment Superintendent’s Memo #283-21
- EL Identification Checklist - Original Version
- EL Identification Checklist -ADA Compliant
- Reentering The EL Status
- Classifying and reporting English Learners (ELs) and Immigrant Youth Students
SLIFE
- SLIFE Guidebook (PDF)
- Appendix A: Sample Checklist of Considerations (Word)
- Appendix B: SLIFE Registration Option One (Word)
- Appendix C: SLIFE Registration Option Two (Word)
Title III Virginia Support Documents
- Virginia Compliance with Title III Requirements
- A Year in the Life of a Title III Coordinator (Word)
- Registrar - One Page Virginia Support Document
- Counselor - One Page Virginia Support Document
- LIEP Teacher - One Page Virginia Support Document
- Administrator - One Page Virginia Support Document
- Serving ELs with Disabilities - One Page Virginia Support Document
Title I/III Parent Notification
School divisions are required to inform parents annually regarding their child's placement in a language instruction education program within 30 days after the beginning of the school year, or within two weeks of the child's placement within a program.
- Title I/Title III Parent Notifications Requirements for LEP Parents document - ADA Compliant
- Title I/Title III Parent Notifications Requirements for LEP Parents document - Original Version
- Sample Parent Notification Letter - ADA Compliant
- Sample Parent Notification Letter - Original Version
Special Education and ELs
- Handbook for Educators of English Learners with Suspected Disabilities - ADA Compliant
- Handbook for Educators of English Learners with Suspected Disabilities Original Version
- VDOE Special Education Webpage
- Evaluation and Eligibility For Special Education and Related Services: Guidance Document
Title III Fiscal Requirements
- Spending Handbook for Title I, Part A; Title II, Part A; Title III, Part A; and Title IV, Part A
- Allowable Expenditures of Title IIII EL Funds by Required Use and Object Code - ADA Compliant
- Allowable Expenditures of Title IIII EL Funds by Required Use and Object Code - Original Version
- Title III Supplement, Not Supplant Requirements
Title III Data
The Student Record Collection system enables the commonwealth and its school divisions to comply with the information and reporting requirements of Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The system also reduces the reporting burden on school divisions and ensures continuity and validity in all enrollment-based data collections. Title III, Part A, allocations are based on the Fall Student Record Collection.
Language Reports
- EL Population by Language September 2023 (XLS)
- EL Population by Language by Division September 2023 (XLS)
Enrollment
2024 Applications and Guidelines
2024 Title III Independent Application - Over $10,000
- 2024 Title III, Part A, Independent Application Guidelines
- 2024 Title III, Part A, Independent Application (zipped.xls)
2024 Title III Statewide Consortium Application - Under $10,000
- 2024 Title III, Part A, Statewide Consortium Application Guidelines
- 2024 Title III, Part A, Statewide Consortium Application (zipped.xls)
Title III Allocations - Over $10,000 Submitted Through OMEGA
Division program coordinators should contact their program specialist for information about the application for federal funds.
Memoranda from Virginia State Superintendent to school division superintendents:
2023-2024
- 2023-2024 Title III, Part A, Allocations under Provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as Amended
- Revisions to 2023-2024 Title III, Part A, Allocations under Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as Amended.
2022-2023
- 2022-2023 Title III, Part A, Allocations under Provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as Amended (PDF)
- MEMO 196-22, Attachment A: Attachment: Additional Required Special Terms and Conditions For Grant Awards or Cooperative Agreements (PDF)
- MEMO 196-22, Attachment B: Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, Title III, Part A, 2022-2023 Grant Allocations (PDF)
- MEMO 196-22, Attachment C: Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, Title III, Part A, Terms of Grant Award (PDF)
- Revisions to 2022-2023 Title III, Part A, Allocations under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA)
- MEMO 055-23, Attachment A: Additional Required Special Terms and Conditions for Grant Awards or Cooperative Agreements
- MEMO 055-23, Attachment B: Revised Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 Title III, Part A, 2022-2023 Allocations
- MEMO 055-23, Attachment C: Procedures for the Reallocation of Title III, Part A, Funds
Title III Allocations - Under $10,000 through the Title III Statewide Consortium
2023-2024
- Title III Statewide Consortium Allocation 2023-2024
- Title III, Statewide Consortium Reallocation 2023-2024
Forms
2022-2023
- Title III Statewide Consortium Allocation 2022-2023 (XLSX)
- Title III, A Statewide Consortium Reallocation 2022-2023
Forms
Title III Statewide Consortium Members
Equitable Services to Private School Students
The ESEA includes separate provisions governing equitable services for eligible private school students, teachers and other educational personnel, and families under Title I and programs covered under Title VIII, Part F, Subpart 1, Uniform Provisions- Private Schools.
EL Assessment
As required in Section 1111 (b) of ESSA, school divisions must annually assess the English proficiency of ELs in kindergarten through grade 12.
As required in Section 1111(3)(C)(v) of the ESSA, English Learners ELs must participate in state content assessments in each of grades 3 through 8 and at least once in grades 9 through 12.
- Virginia English Language Proficiency Assessments Webpage
- WIDA English Language Proficiency Assessments.
- WIDA 's Virginia ELP Assessment Website
- EL Assessment Procedures
EL Education and Instruction
The commonwealth and its public schools provide specialized instructional programs for ELs.