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"Sink or Swim" Immersion Programs
The "Sink or Swim" program is the prevailing method of instruction for language minorities from the 1920s to the 1960s. Students are remanded to the same grade level until proficient in content area English. -
The Civil Rights Act: Title VI
Title VI outlaws discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in the functioning of programs that receive federal financial assistance. -
The Bilingual Education Act
The Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1968, establishes federal policy for bilingual education for economically disadvantaged language minority students, allocates funds for innovative programs, and recognizes the unique educational disadvantages faced by non-English speaking students. -
Serna v. Portales
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals found that Spanish surnamed students' achievement levels were below those of their Anglo counterparts. The Court ordered Partales Municipal Schools to implement a bilingual/bicultural curriculum, revise procedures for assessing achievement, and higher bilingual school personnel. -
Lau v. Nichols
This lawsuit was presented by Chinese parents in San Francisco and led to the ruling that 'identical education' dos NOT constitute 'equal education' under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Establishes the Office for Civil Rights has the authority to establish regulations for the Title VI enforcement. -
Castaneda v. Pickard
Widely believed to be one of the most significant court decision affecting language minority students. The case led the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to formulate a set of basic standards to determine school district compliance with the Equal Educational Opportunities Act (EEOA).
"Castaneda Test"
1. Theory: Must use an educational theory recognized as sound.
2. Practice: Must use practices that transfer theory to reality.
3. Results: Must not persist in programs that do not work. -
United States v. State of Texas et al.
The US District Court instructs TEA to phase in mandatory bilingual education in grades K-12. This decision came with specifically outlined requirements including: three year monitoring cycles, identification of LEP students, and a language survey for students entering school. -
Plyler v. Doe
Under the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution, the state does not have the right to deny a free public education to undocumented immigrant children. -
Amendments to Title VII
New Amendments provide for some native language maintenance, provide funding for LEP students with special needs, support family English literacy programs and emphasize the importance of teacher training programs. -
Gomez v. Illinois
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that State Education Agencies are also required under EEOA to ensure that language minority student's educational needs are met. -
Amendment to Title VII
Amendments include increased funding to State education agencies, expanded funding for 'special alternative' programs where only English is used, established a three year limit on participation in most Title VII, and created fellowship programs for professional training. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, appropriates funds to states to improve the education of limited English proficiency students by assisting children to learn English and meet challenging state academic content and student academic achievement standards. Legislation for limited English proficiency students is found under Title III of NCLB.
