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Civil Rights Act of 1964
Discrimination based on race, color, or national origin is illegal. Title VI of this act ensures protection under any and all federally assisted programs. -
Bilingual Education Act, Title VII
Deemed as the "largest and most influential federal education policy" (pg. 36). Congress set funding aside for school districts with large population of language minority speaking students to meet their educational needs. -
Lau v. Nichols
Chinese American parents claimed that their child was not receiving a quality education. Judge ruled that simply because the same resources were provided did not equate to a just education. School districts need to take steps to resolve these inequalities in their education. Lau remedies were the guidelines that stated how to evaluate and place emergent bilinguals. -
Equal Education Opportunities Act
requires states to take "appropriate action to overcome language barriers" to provide an equal opportunity for its' students. -
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English-Only Movement in Education (Ron Unz)
Ron Unz, "software millionaire", proposed to end bilingual education in CA, students should be in English-Only instruction for one year then transition. Waiver could be requested under certain conditions. Spread to AZ where transition changed to 4 hours a day for a year, MA, and CO (failed to pass based on perceptions of English-speaking students mixing with Non-English Speakers). -
No Child Left Behind Act
Period focused solely on testing and English immersion. If schools were underperforming according to the standards they set, then they would be subject to intervention. Difficult to measure the success of emergent bilinguals because those who became "proficient" were no longer categorized, leaving those who "failed to progress" the only ones within the category. Led states to lower their standards to give the appearance that they were achieving their goals. -
Every Child Succeeds Act
Focuses on achievement of state academic standards. Allows for the standardized tests to be provided in the language that the ensures more success for the student. States are to identify significantly present languages and those don't have an assessment available. Data does not have to be reported until the students' 3rd year and can include their data up to 4 years after their reclassification.