RICHARDSON, TEXAS – Jennifer Dailey-Perkins, Grant Program Manager for the Partnership and Resources Division of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), visited several International Leadership of Texas (ILTexas) campuses on January 28th & 29th, 2025 to observe firsthand the impact of DoDEA grant funding on students' Chinese language education. ILTexas currently has the largest number of students in the United States learning Mandarin Chinese, a critical national security language. 

 

During her visit, Dailey-Perkins toured ILTexas Garland High School, ILTexas Garland K-8, ILTexas Keller K-8, and ILTexas Keller-Saginaw High School. Each tour was led by student ambassadors, who showcased their leadership skills and shared their experiences with DoDEA-funded programs.

At lunch, students provided personal testimonials on how DoDEA grants have enriched their Chinese language learning. They highlighted various opportunities made possible through ILTexas’ Chinese Advanced Language (CAL) project, which has been funded by three five-year DoDEA grants awarded in 2022, 2023, and 2024, totaling $6,000,000.

The CAL project is designed to enhance language proficiency across all ILTexas students, with a particular focus on military-connected and JROTC students. Key components of the initiative include:

• Advanced professional development for ILTexas Chinese teachers, facilitated by Advanced Chinese Instructional Coaches.

• Free Chinese language and culture immersion summer camps for high school students.

• Additional Chinese language teachers hired at the K-5 level.

 

 

Further bolstering its commitment to language education, ILTexas recently received its third consecutive World Language Advancement and Readiness Program (WLARP) award in Fiscal Year 2024. This $2 million grant supports innovative programs such as a new Advanced Chinese Language Course centered around fine arts content and a martial arts course integrated into the physical education curriculum—both designed to enhance language acquisition through movement and artistic expression.

Students also shared their transformative experiences in various immersive language programs supported by these grants. They spoke about their participation in the Summer Language Institute at the University of Mississippi, a 30-day study abroad program in Taiwan, as well as their involvement in prestigious initiatives like STARTALK and the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarships.

Dailey-Perkins’ visit underscored the significant impact of DoDEA funding on ILTexas students and their global readiness. As ILTexas continues to provide students with the highest-quality and most immersive Chinese language programs, these grants play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of multilingual leaders prepared to engage in an increasingly interconnected world - filling a critical diplomatic gap.