Iowa State’s National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center recently was awarded a $924,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The ISU grant proposal was ranked third in the nation, and it will benefit the curriculum and teaching of foreign languages to children in kindergarten through 12th grade.

“This is the first grant of this type we have received from the U.S. Department of Education,” said Marcia Rosenbusch, director of the Foreign Language Center.

The grant will support many projects, including performance assessments, technology, teacher training and research within the center, Rosenbusch said.

“Our center is unique in that our leaders are not all housed here at the center,” she said.

“They are from school districts, colleges and departments all over the country, so we get a broad range and variety, which is a positive aspect for the center,” Rosenbusch said.

Since the establishment of the center in 1994, other grants have been awarded to ISU to benefit teacher development workshops, elementary school foreign language departments and foreign language teaching.

Rosenbusch said the center is most recognized for its summer program for foreign language teachers, which has drawn educators from all over the world.

“In that particular program, we have 383 participants from 48 states gaining the skills and professional preparation they need,” Rosenbusch said. “And what’s neat about it is they can return back to their hometown and share the information they have learned with others. It has been a very successful program.”

Ann Thompson, chairwoman of the curriculum and instructional department, said not only is the department extremely fortunate to have received a grant like this, but the state of Iowa is honored as well.

“This is a very prestigious and competitive honor, and it is wonderful for ISU to be one of these centers,” Thompson said. “These programs offered by the center provide outstanding contacts and relationships with educators nationwide.

“With the grant, we will be able to improve the success but also enhance the environment of the center for the skilled educators we bring in,” she said.

The grant is in effect through Sept. 30, 2002.