The Texas A&M University (TAMU) World Languages Teacher Program was initially funded by STARTALK in 2021. STARTALK is a federal grant program supported by the National Security Agency. STARTALK grants fund several types of innovative programs that create strong language learning outcomes for K-12 students, provide in-depth, quality teacher development, and develop support materials and resources for educators in order to meet the goals for critical-need languages in the United States. Those goals include:

• increasing the number of students enrolled in critical language studies;

• increasing the number of highly effective critical language teachers in the U.S.,

• and increasing the availability of quality teaching and learning materials.