CARLA Funding Sources

The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) sponsors a wide variety of research and action initiatives related to second language learning. Funding for projects at CARLA comes from a number of sources at the national, state, and local level.

Language Resource Centers (LRC)
Key funding for CARLA's activities comes from the U.S. Department of Education's Language Resource Center program as authorized under Title VI of the Higher Education Act. This program supports several select Language Resource Centers nationwide to improve the nation's capacity to teach and learn foreign languages effectively.

The University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota supports CARLA with funding for infrastructure, in-kind contributions, through direct grants for specific purposes and provides supplementary funding support for many of the conferences, seminars, and workshops held through CARLA.

Maximizing Study Abroad Through Language and Culture Strategies
The research study on the impact of support material on study abroad was funded by the U.S. Department of Education's International Research and Studies Programs from 2002-2005. During 2005-2006 project leaders will incorporate feedback from the research study into the Maximizing Study Abroad guides, originally created through LRC funding (1999-2002).

Content Based Language Teaching through Technology (COBALTT)
The professional development component of this program was launched in the summer of 1999 with funding from the Eisenhower Professional Development Program through the Minnesota Higher Education Services Office. The program was developed with LRC funding from 1999-2002 and is currently funded by the LRC (2002-2006).

TEAM UP (Teaching English Language Learners Action Model to Unite Professionals)
This project funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Title III National Development Program (2002-2007) was initiated as a collaboration between the University of Minnesota's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) and CARLA and is fully administered by CEHD.

The Quality Teaching Network
The Minnesota Department of Education has funded CARLA to provide coordination for the QTN for world language teachers in Minnesota (2003, 2003-2004, 2005-2006, 2006-2007).

The Minnesota Articulation Project (MNAP)
This project received funding from the Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education from September 1993 - August 1997 and the National Endowment for the Humanities from January 1994 - August 1997.

Proficiency Oriented Language Instruction and Assessment (POLIA)
This project was awarded two grants, one for 1997-98 and one for 1998-99, through the Minnesota Higher Education Services Office with funding from the federal Eisenhower Professional Development Program.

Critical Languages Articulation Project
The project began in the fall of 1994 with funding from the Critical Languages and Area Studies Program of the U.S. Department of Education and ended in May 1999.

English as a Second/Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) Teaching Technology Materials
This project was funded by Minnesota Technology, Inc., which is a state supported non-profit corporation.

Computer Adaptive Testing
In July 1995, CARLA received a multiple-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education's International Research and Studies Program. The grant was used for the development of computer administered reading tests in French, German, and Spanish.

Supporting Mainstream Elementary Teachers with High Numbers of English Language Learners (ELLs)
Originally launched with Title I funding, the Minneapolis Public Schools received funding from Title VII for five years to expand the project (1999-2004).