The U.S. Government provides support for ELLs through the U.S. Department of Education and also through programs housed in the Department of Health and Human Services. U.S. Government offices exist to disseminate funding, enforce policy and legislation and monitor for compliance. They also provide technical assistance as part of their role in implementing federal legislation and policy.
U.S. Department of Education Offices
United States Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202
The United States Department of Education (ED) is funded by Congress to promote student achievement by establishing policies, disseminating funding, monitoring the use of the funds, collecting data and overseeing research in education. ED also enforces federal laws prohibiting discrimination in educational programs.
The Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA)
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
OELA provides national leadership to help ensure that ELLs and immigrant students attain English language proficiency and academic achievement and assists in building the nation’s capacity in critical foreign languages.
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202
Email: ocr@ed.gov
OCR enforces several Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance from the Department of Education.
The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE)
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Email: oese@ed.gov
OESE assists State and local education agencies to improve the achievement of elementary and secondary school students through the administration of federal education programs. While OESE serves ELLs in all programs in which they qualify, there are a number of programs that more specifically address the needs of ELLs.
Student Achievement and School Accountability Programs
This Office manages the Title III State Formula Grants, which are designed to improve the education of limited English proficient (LEP) children and youths by helping them learn English and meet challenging state academic content and student academic achievement standards.
The Office of Indian Education (OIE)
Email: oese@ed.gov
OIE supports local educational agencies, Indian tribes and organizations, postsecondary institutions, and other entities in meeting the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives so that these students can achieve the same challenging state standards as all students.
The Office of Migrant Education (OME)
Email: oese@ed.gov
OME provides leadership, technical assistance, and financial support to improve the educational opportunities and academic success of migrant children, youth, agricultural workers and fishers, and their families. The OME administers grant programs that provide academic and supportive services to the children of families who migrate to find work in the agricultural and fishing industries.
Division of Adult Education and Literacy
Office of Vocational and Adult Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-7100
Email: ovae@ed.gov
The Division of Adult Education and Literacy (DAEL) promotes programs that help American adults get the basic skills they need to be productive workers, family members, and citizens.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Offices
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Aerospace Building
901 D Street, SW
Washington, DC 20447
Email: april.young@acf.hhs.gov
ORR provides funding and services for organizations that assist with refugee resettlement. Funding through the ORR Refugee School Impact Grants goes for K – 12 education.
The Office of Head Start
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20447
Head Start is a national program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families.
White House
White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Room 5E110
Washington, DC 20202-3601
Email: http://www.yic.gov/contactus/index.html