Foreign Language, Civics, History, and Economics Lose in Federal Budget

From http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/01/11/15budget-curriculum.h31.html

Literacy Wins, History Loses in Federal Budget
Foreign-language, civics, economics aid also scrapped
By Erik W. Robelen
January 6, 2012

The budget compromise recently hammered out in Washington breathes new life into a major literacy initiative at the U.S. Department of Education, but wipes out federal aid for some other department programs targeting aspects of the curriculum, including instruction in American history and foreign languages.

Among programs that were eliminated was the $27 million Foreign Language Assistance program, first established two decades ago.

"We are extremely disheartened that in the final budget deal, Congress zeroed out the funding for [foreign languages]," said Martha G. Abbott, the executive director of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, based in Alexandria, Va. "Now, there is no funding for foreign language K-12 programs from the U.S. Department of Education in an era when our nation's language capacity is so greatly in need of strengthening."

Ms. Abbott noted that some grant recipients are in the middle of multiyear commitments that will be cut short.

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