The Federal Emergency Immigrant Education Program

Publication Date: June 2001

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Education; Population and demographics

Type:

Abstract:

The Emergency Immigrant Education Program (EIEP), authorized in Title VII, Part C of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), provides formula grants to state educational agencies for distribution to local educational agencies serving large numbers of immigrant children and youth. The term "immigrant children and youth" includes foreign born individuals ages 3-21 who have been attending U.S. schools for less than 3 years. In FY2000, the program received an appropriation of $150,000,000 and served 862,252 immigrant students. The program received an appropriation of $150,000,000 for FY2001. Some issues Congress may consider when discussing program reauthorization include: whether the EIEP should be consolidated with other federal education programs serving immigrant pupils; whether criteria should be changed to target LEAs with greatest need for support; and whether increased accountability is necessary to ensure effective use of federal funds. This report will be updated periodically to reflect program developments.