Title III — English Language Acquisition

(English Language Acquisition)

Department of Education

Proposed Cut

$890M

% Reduction

100.0%

Action Type

elimination

Who Is Served

5.26 million English Learner students (10–11% of all public school students)

Summary

Title III English Language Acquisition sends federal money to states and school districts to pay for extra help \u2014 like ESL teachers, bilingual aides, and training \u2014 for students still learning English. The FY2027 budget proposes eliminating this $890 million program entirely, a 100% cut, based on an English-only instruction policy that the administration says shows the federal government funding bilingual and ESL supports it no longer wants to support.

Who Is Affected

Roughly 5.26 million English Learner students nationwide \u2014 about 10 to 11% of all U.S. public school students \u2014 would lose the only dedicated federal funding stream reserved specifically for their language-support services. School districts with large immigrant populations would be hit hardest; for example, Los Angeles County schools alone received about $30 million in Title III funds in the 2023-24 school year, money used for ESL teachers, translators, and family outreach staff.

What this cut would actually mean

Because Title III is the sole federal funding source set aside exclusively for English learners, its elimination would force districts to either cut ESL staff and services or divert money from other programs like general classroom instruction to cover the gap. Advocacy groups and district officials have already reported layoffs, canceled contracts, and halted services when similar Title III funds were delayed, and researchers warn that without dedicated support, English learners are more likely to fall behind academically and struggle to reach English proficiency.

Sources

White House Releases FY27 Budget with More Cuts for Language Education Priorities — Reports that the FY27 budget eliminates the $890 million Title III English Language Acquisition program, citing immigration, test scores, and federal overreach as justification.
A Summary of the U.S. Department of Education's FY 2027 Budget Request \u2014 Holland & Knight — Confirms the FY2027 request cuts English Language Acquisition funding from $890 million to $0, eliminating the stand-alone program.
DEPARTMENT of EDUCATION FY2027 Budget Justification \u2014 govinfo.gov — The administration's own budget document explaining its rationale for eliminating the English Language Acquisition program.
\u2018Immediate harm\u2019: Education Department withholds $6.2B from schools \u2014 K-12 Dive — Describes real-world harm from Title III funding disruptions, including staff layoffs and canceled services for English learners.
California educators protest Trump's proposed cuts for English learners \u2014 EdSource — Reports that Los Angeles County schools received about $30 million in Title III funding in 2023-24, illustrating local reliance on the program.
Cuts to Title III and civil rights enforcement will harm English learners, report says \u2014 K-12 Dive — Summarizes a Children's Equity Project report on how eliminating Title III funding would harm English learner students nationwide.