-
Meyer v. Nebraska 1923
This case helped parents, teachers and schools teach students in any language they see fit. Therefore, ELL students can be taught in their native language when necessary. The court determined the Nebraska was violating the 14th Amendment by depriving them liberty to learn in their native language without due process of the law. -
Farrington v. Tokushige in Hawaii 1927
This court case was a result of families wanting to keep afterschool programs in their native language. The courts required the school districts to allow the programs to continue and stopped the education authorities from blocking such programs that offered these Japanese and Chinese Students education in their Native Language. This case was about the parents rights to educate their child as they see fit. -
Brown vs. Board of Education of 1954
This was not specifically about language learning but it did help minority students. Mexican children for example were denied public education in California Westminster School district. This law forced Westminster School district to allow the students to attend. If this case was not won many English Language Learners might have had trouble as a minority in other public schools as well. They could be segregated from the other students and this would not help their English language learning. -
1967 Governor Ronald Reagan signs SB 53
California public schools previously only allowed English instruction from an 1872 law. The Governor signed a bill removing this law allowing instruction in other languages. This causes ELL students to be stuck in English only classes and have to learn in a language they may not understand with no support. This legislation was a big turnaround for California. -
Title VII 1968
Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1968 designed to promote excellence in education. The act did this by awarding schools that serve English Language Learners with grants when they were successful. This act changed the way ELL students were taught and it promoted equal treatment and gave their teachers the proper training. -
U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare Memorandum of May 25, 1970
The Memo helps by forcing school districts to provide English Language Learners with specialized Education to help them improve their language deficiencies. It affirmed the Civil rights act of 1964 as well. It gives the ELL students the rights to an equal education and also stated that the lack of the ability to speak English should not exclude them from any educational programs. -
Serna vs. Portales 1974
This court case was important because the Portales school district was ordered to design an education plan for English Language Learners that would address their lower achievement levels than their Anglo counterparts. Previously this district offered no programs for ELL students and there was an achievement gap between the Spanish students and Anglo students. -
Lau vs. Nichols decided in 1974
A group of non-English speaking families of Chinese decent filed a lawsuit against San Francisco Unified School District for not providing a meaningful education to their children. The children spoke no English and were given no language support and were failing in school and had almost no success. The case resulted in a mandate to provide access to curriculum the same as their English speaking peers with support in their language. -
Rios vs. Reed 1978
The Federal District Court found that Pastchogue-Medford School District had an inadequate bilingual program. They had the goal to teach the children in a bilingual program but had inadequate instruction, teachers, materials, placement procedures, curriculum and native language instruction. This case proves offering a bilingual program is not enough it needs to be a high quality program with all the proper components in place. -
Senator S.I. Hayakawa introduced a constitutional amendment in 1981
This amendment was to make English the sole language of the United States. By 1998 25 states made English their official language and today there are 31 states. If English is the official language then the students might get more help in learning that official language. It could be a step toward more bilingual education for ELL students. -
Castañeda vs. Pickard 1981
This case was in a Southern District of Texas that set a standard that school districts have to have three criteria. They need pedagogically driven plan for ELL students, qualified staff to implement the plan, and a system to evaluate the programs. This case however did not require the ELL programs meet standards. The programs were to bridge the gap between language barriers. -
Plyler v. Doe 1981
This case was brought to the US Supreme court in 1981. It was regarding Illegal immigrants and their children. The court decided that due to the Fourteenth Amendment that the Illegal Immigrant children are people and are then are disadvantaged if denied public education. The Supreme Court struck down the law that illegal immigrant children cannot be education allowing them a free public education. This is very important in education our ELL students and helps innocent children as well. -
Keyes vs. School District #1 1983
This is another case that helps ELL students by requiring the Denver Public School District to provide Castaneda Test’s three basic elements to its ELL students. They were not providing adequate plan to educate their ELL students. The school district was required to implement a plan to educate their national origin minority students. This case will give students a fair and equal education they deserve. -
Gomez vs. Illinois 1987
This was another case that gave English Language Learners access to quality education. This case required state and local education agencies to ensure all Limited English proficient Children’s needs are met. This case sited the Equal Opportunities Act of 1974 as a guideline. This ensures ELL students get the education they require. -
Bilingual Education Act 1994
The Bilingual Education act of 1994 is also known as Title VII and it was the fifth time the act was reauthorized. Title VII was passed the first time in 1968. This act promotes education excellence and awards grants to schools serving English Language Learners. The act also requires professional development for teachers in the schools which benefits English language learners. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) 2002
NCLB changed from Title VII’s laws in a few ways. One was it shifted to Title III which is language instruction for limited proficient English and immigrant students. In NCLB instruction native language is optional which helps the school and parents decide what is best for each child. NCLB isn’t perfect but it does have some advantages for ELL students that receive Title III services. -
Sources
http://lnmartinsmcm.pbworks.com/w/page/48806605Castaneda%20v%20Pickard%20(1981)
http://moramodules.com/Pages/HistoryBE.htm
http://sk.sagepub.com/reference/bilingual/n50.xml
http://www.colorincolorado.org/
http://www.idra.org/
http://www.nabe.org
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/special_reports/bilingual/Bil164.shtml http://www2.ed.gov
