Indiana school systems have until Wednesday, Sept. 30, to apply for the state’s 2026-2028 Title III grants, a federal program supporting English learners and immigrant students. The Indiana Department of Education’s allocation table points to $10.77 million statewide, based on 104,575 public- and nonpublic-school English learners at $103 per student.
The application deadline appears on IDOE’s grant timeline. The same schedule gives recipients until Sept. 30, 2028, to obligate the money, with final reimbursement requests due Dec. 15, 2028. Schools must therefore submit the initial application this month even though the grant period runs for two years.
Allocations follow student counts
IDOE’s 18-page allocation list uses 2025-2026 enrollment counts. Multiplying the statewide total by the $103 rate produces $10,771,225. The document lists Indianapolis Public Schools for $625,416 based on 6,072 English learners, Perry Township Schools for $494,915 based on 4,805 students and Fort Wayne Community Schools for $449,080 based on 4,360 students.
Those figures are planning allocations, not proof that every listed amount will become a stand-alone award. Federal allocation law generally distributes Title III money according to each eligible entity’s share of English learners, but it also sets a $10,000 minimum subgrant. IDOE posts a consortium participation agreement alongside the application materials, allowing smaller districts to combine for eligibility. The state table includes many calculated shares below $10,000, making that consortium route consequential for rural and low-enrollment systems.
What schools can fund
Federal program rules require grantees to use Title III money for effective language-instruction programs, professional development and activities that build family and community participation. Permitted additions include curriculum materials, educational software, tutorials, assessments and technology that improve instruction for English learners. The money must supplement, rather than replace, other federal, state and local funding.
The broader statutory purpose is to help English learners attain proficiency and meet the same state academic standards expected of all students. It also directs the program toward supporting educators and strengthening communication with parents, families and communities.
The state also publishes a separate equitable-share table for participating nonpublic schools. That reflects Title III’s requirement that eligible private-school students and educators receive equitable services through the public agency administering the grant; the funds are not simply transferred to private schools for unrestricted use.
What the deadline means
For large districts, missing Sept. 30 could delay planned staffing, training or instructional purchases tied to six-figure allocations. For smaller districts, the immediate decision may be whether to join a consortium so the combined application clears the federal minimum.
IDOE’s page provides the allocation tables, budget form, online application portal, amendment instructions and consortium agreement in one place. It lists the first annual performance report deadline as Sept. 30, 2027. The agency has not announced an extension, so districts preparing an application have five calendar days from Friday to complete submission.
