Native American Language Grant (NAL@ED)

Native Language Revitalization and Native Language Immersion Curricula in Tribal Early Childhood Programs

On July 18, 2022, the Administration for Children and Families hosted a webinar on approaches to revitalizing Native languages and implementing Native language immersion curricula in Tribal early childhood programs. Click here to view the recording, download a copy of the presentation, and access the resources shared during the webinar.

Program Overview

The purposes of the NAL@ED program are to support schools that use Native American and Alaska Native languages as the primary language of instruction; maintain, protect, and promote the rights and freedom of Native Americans and Alaska Natives to use, practice, maintain, and revitalize their languages, as envisioned in the Native American Languages Act of 1990 (25 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.); and support the Nation’s First Peoples’ efforts to maintain and revitalize their languages and cultures, and to improve educational opportunities and student outcomes within Native American and Alaska Native communities.

Types Of Projects

The absolute funding priorities for the program in FY2020 limit projects to the development and maintenance of new Native American language programs or the expansion and improvement of existing Native American language programs.

Absolute Priority 1: Develop and Maintain New Native American Language Programs

To meet this priority, an applicant must propose to develop and maintain a Native American language instructional program that—

1. Will support Native American language education and development for Native American students, as well as provide professional development for teachers and, as appropriate, staff and administrators, to strengthen the overall language and academic goals of the school or schools that will be served by the project;
2. Will take place in a school; and
3. Does not augment or replace a program of identical scope that was active within the last three years at the school(s) to be served.

Absolute Priority 2: Expand and Improve Existing Native American Language Programs

To meet this priority, an applicant must propose to improve and expand a Native American language instructional program that—

1. Will improve and expand Native American language education and development for Native American students, as well as provide professional development for teachers and, as appropriate, staff and administrators, to strengthen the overall language and academic goals of the school or schools that will be served by the project;
2. Will continue to take place in a school; and
3. Within the past three years has been offered at the school(s) to be served.