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June Advocacy Report

  • May 27
  • 2 min read

from Amanda Mendoza, KSWLA Advocacy Chair


June 2026


Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)and Brad Schneider (D-IL) reintroduced the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Act (S. 4541), a bill designed to increase the number and diversity of American students studying abroad. Among the reasons that JNCL-NCLIS, along with many of its members, endorsed this bill is that it includes a grant priority for those programs with a significant world language component. KSWLA was involved in supporting this initiative by signing onto a call for support from JNCL-NCLIS member organizations.


Specifically, the bill would rename and expand the existing IDEAS grant program by codifying recommendations of a Congressionally authorized study abroad commission, setting the following new goals for the IDEA program: 


  • Increase the number of American undergraduate students studying abroad each year to one million students within 10 years; 

  • Increase the number of minority students, first generation college students, community college students, and students with disabilities studying abroad by prioritizing grants for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Serving Institutions, and institutions that qualify for the Department of Education’s Strengthening Institutions Program.  This would ensure that the demographics of study abroad participation better reflect the demographics of the undergraduate population; and 

  • Increase the number of students who study abroad in nontraditional destinations, with an emphasis on economically developing countries, while maintaining health and safety guidelines and procedures informed by Department of State travel advisories and other appropriate federal agencies and resources.



In more disappointing news, the U.S. Department of Education shuttered the Office of English Language Acquisition on Thursday, May 14, over a year after gutting its staff to just one. The office reportedly had around 15 employees.


In doing so, the agency is compromising school districts’ ability to provide instruction to English learners, according to public education advocates who oppose the move. The Trump administration, however, defends the action as one that will cut red tape and ultimately provide more focus on the topic.


The office was the only arm of the federal agency dedicated to ensuring that English learners and immigrant students gained English proficiency and academic success, that schools preserved students’ heritage languages and cultures, and that all students had the chance to develop biliteracy or multiliteracy skills.


This closure will reduce coordinated support for school districts and the English learners they serve. For more information, go to: https://www.k12dive.com/news/education-department-shutters-office-of-english-language-acquisition/820178/



 
 
 

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