FY 2026 English Language Fellow, Specialist, and Virtual Educator Program
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DFOP0017779
- Agency
-
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Department of State
- Applications due
- Award size
- $14,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Other
- Eligible applicants
-
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Points of contact
-
- Katherine (Kate) Bain bainke@state.gov (202) 992-0680
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is seeking a single cooperative agreement recipient to manage the English Language Fellow, Specialist, and Virtual Educator Program (ELFSVEP), which places highly qualified American English teaching professionals at educational institutions worldwide to advance U.S. diplomatic and economic interests. The program encompasses three integrated components: English Language Fellows conducting approximately ten-month in-person assignments (100-120 participants), English Language Specialists undertaking short-term projects of two weeks or more (150-190 participants), and Virtual English Language Educators delivering three-week to six-month virtual instruction (80-120 participants). Eligible applicants include U.S. not-for-profit organizations and higher education institutions with a minimum of four years of experience conducting international exchanges, and must maintain current Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and active SAM.gov registration. Recipients will be responsible for recruitment and vetting of TESOL professionals, program management, coordination with U.S. embassies and overseas institutions, performance monitoring using the MODE Framework, and compliance with federal and State Department trafficking in persons certification requirements. The application deadline is Friday, April 24, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with applications submitted exclusively through Grants.gov, and the anticipated award date is July 17, 2026.
The cooperative agreement award is valued at approximately $14,000,000 for a 55-month performance period, with anticipated funding allocation of 55-65% for Fellows, 25-30% for Specialists, and 5-10% for Virtual Educators. The program will support approximately 385 total participants across all three components. Program activities will take place globally across all world regions, with participants placed at educational institutions in strategic countries where U.S. missions identify priority needs. Recipients must complete performance monitoring plans using the MODE (Monitoring Data for ECA) Framework and conduct post-program surveys with a target response rate of 60 percent, tracking indicators such as foreign participants' favorable views of the U.S. government, language skill improvements, and professional placement outcomes.
Synopsis
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Office of English Language Programs (ECA/A/L) announces an open competition to support the FY 2026 English Language Fellow, Specialist, and Virtual Educator Program (ELFSVEP). ECA/A/L plans to issue one cooperative agreement to support approximately 385 participants for $14,000,000, pending the availability of funds.
The English Language (EL) Fellow, Specialist, and Virtual Educator Program (ELFSVEP) places top-tier American experts in the field of English teaching in strategic projects at key institutions to advance U.S. interests in strategic countries. The program sends highly qualified experts on approximately ten-month Fellow exchanges, short-term (two weeks or more) Specialist assignments, or three-week to six-month Virtual Educator assignments at educational institutions in all world regions.
English Language programs advance American influence with critical audiences and have a cascading reach and strategic returns. The initiatives go beyond teaching English; they advance America's national interest by embedding the global language of diplomacy, business, and science abroad. American expertise is in high demand by foreign governments, educational institutions, and workplaces. Providing American English Educators abroad allows U.S. Missions to build trusted networks in fragile regions, reinforce alliances through shared language and values, and promote U.S. economic interests. When America leads in English Language teaching, we set the terms of engagement; when America steps back, competitors fill the void. These programs ensure foreign partners turn first to the United States for English education, vocational upskilling, and secure partnerships, delivering on the Department's America First mission.
Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.
Update #1 ·
The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Office of English Language Programs (ECA/A/L) announces an open competition to support the FY 2026 English Language Fellow, Specialist, and Virtual Educator Program (ELFSVEP). ECA/A/L plans to issue one cooperative agreement to support approximately 385 participants for $14,000,000, pending the availability of funds. The English Language (EL) Fellow, Specialist, and Virtual Educator Program (ELFSVEP) places top-tier American experts in the field of English teaching in strategic projects at key institutions to advance U.S. interests in strategic countries. The program sends highly qualified experts on approximately ten-month Fellow exchanges, short-term (two weeks or more) Specialist assignments, or three-week to six-month Virtual Educator assignments at educational institutions in all world regions. English Language programs advance American influence with critical audiences and have a cascading reach and strategic returns. The initiatives go beyond teaching English; they advance America's national interest by embedding the global language of diplomacy, business, and science abroad. American expertise is in high demand by foreign governments, educational institutions, and workplaces. Providing American English Educators abroad allows U.S. Missions to build trusted networks in fragile regions, reinforce alliances through shared language and values, and promote U.S. economic interests. When America leads in English Language teaching, we set the terms of engagement; when America steps back, competitors fill the void. These programs ensure foreign partners turn first to the United States for English education, vocational upskilling, and secure partnerships, delivering on the Department's America First mission. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| performance_monitoring_plan_mode_2.3_02.03.2025.pdf | ||
| performance_monitoring_plan_mode_2.3_02.03.2025-4.docx | DOCX document | |
| FY 2026 ELFSVEP NOFO.pdf |
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