Fact Sheet
Language Grant
March 25, 1998
The Ontario government knows that elementary and high school students
must have good basic skills in either English or French if they are to
succeed in the education system. It also recognizes the social, cultural,
and educational value of studying a second language.
The Language Grant provides funding for:
- English-as-a-second-language (ESL) instruction for students who are recent immigrants from countries in which English is
not a first language, or is spoken differently from the way it is spoken
in Canada. The program will also help students born in Canada but who do
not have an adequate knowledge of English, usually because English is
not spoken at home.
- French-language programs at English schools,
including Core French, Extended French and French Immersion. Funding is
based on the number of students enrolled in these programs, and varies
with the length of each program.
- French as a first-language (Français langue maternelle
– FLM) instruction for French- language school boards
to cover the higher cost of French-language learning materials and
other aspects of French-language education. Boards receive specified
amounts per student, based on the student’s grade level, i.e.
elementary, Grade 9-10, or Grade 11- 12/OAC.
- French-proficiency for francophones (Actualisation
linguistique en français/Perfectionnement du français –
ALF/PDF) to help students who have a right to attend or are
admitted to a French-language school, but who need to upgrade their
skills in French.
- Native-language instruction – second- language instruction in native languages. Funding is based on the number of
students enrolled, plus a start-up grant for each student enrolled in
the first five years of the program.
- International-languages instruction funds classes for elementary students in languages other than English or French (these
classes are often called “Heritage Languages” classes).
Funding is based on the number of hours of classroom instruction and
class size. Funding for International-languages instruction, because it
is provided outside of the normal school day, is provided through the
Adult and Continuing Education Grant.
The new Language Grant preserves existing funding levels and grant
formulas with three exceptions.
- Funding for optional Core and Extended French for Junior
Kindergarten to Grade 3 students will be discontinued. This will save
$35 million, which will be reinvested in the Early Learning Grant.
Funding for early French Immersion programs will be continued.
- Funding for English as a Second Language (ESL) will be based on the number of non-English-speaking immigrant students plus the number of
non-English speaking students born in Canada. This will ensure that
English instruction for non-English speakers will be directed to
students who need it.
- Funding for French-proficiency instruction (ALF/PDF) will be
increased to include funding for French instruction for new Canadians
who enroll in French-language schools.
The Language Grant will be $374 million in 1998-99.
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