Dear Members of the Turkish American Community,
We are reaching out to inform you of a serious and immediate threat to the future of language education in the United States — one that directly impacts students, educators, and programs that support the study of Turkish and other world languages.
The U.S. Department of Education has announced delays in disbursing already approved Fiscal Year 2025 funding for vital education programs, including:
- Title II-A: Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants
- Title III: English Language Acquisition Grants
- Title IV-A: Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants
Even more concerning, the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 federal budget calls for the complete elimination of Title III and Title VI of the Higher Education Act, which includes:
- FLAS (Foreign Language and Area Studies) Fellowships
- Fulbright-Hays study abroad programs
- University-based National Resource Centers
Many of these directly support students, scholars, and institutions focused on Turkish language and area studies.
Additionally, the proposal would consolidate over $6.5 billion in K–12 education funding into a single block grant while slashing overall funding by nearly 70%—which would severely reduce support for less commonly taught languages like Turkish.
Now is the time to act. We must raise our voices and urge our elected officials to:
- Release the delayed FY25 funds without further delay,
- Protect Title III and Title VI funding in the FY26 budget,
- Preserve federal support for all world language education programs.
Here is how you can help:
- Send a message to your Senator and Representative through www.languagepolicy.org/take-action
- Call your elected officials and express your concern as a member of the Turkish American community
- Share this message with your networks, organizations, and social media to mobilize more voices
Every email and every call makes a difference. Language education is not just about communication—it’s about access, opportunity, and global engagement. Let’s ensure that Turkish language and culture continue to have a place in American education for generations to come.
Thank you for taking action and standing up for our community and our shared future.
Sincerely,
ATAA Outreach and Advocacy Committee