Activity 1: The History of Bilingual Education Laws

Document 1 from National Council of La Raza, a bilingual education advocacy group, contains a summary of the federal laws and policies on bilingual education beginning with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It concludes with a discussion of Reagan administration proposals.

As students read the excerpts from this document, they will learn the vocabulary and concepts necessary to understand what each new law said, and discuss the meaning of the laws.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964

Vocabulary and concepts: civil rights, limited English proficient, equal educational opportunity, affirmative responsibility.

What kinds of discrimination were prohibited? Can you give examples from history or from your country of discrimination in education (e.g., against women, racial and ethnic minorities, religious groups)?

Bilingual Education Act, 1968

Vocabulary and concepts: amendment, educational obstacles, competitive grant

What do you think are some of the obstacles facing children of limited English speaking ability? Do you know of any programs in your school that were funded by grants?

Office for Civil Rights memorandum, 1970

Vocabulary and concepts: affirmative steps, national origin minority, effective participation

What educational programs might have been closed to non-English speakers? How does this law help immigrant parents?

Equal Educational Opportunity Act, 1974

Vocabulary and concepts: educational practices, impede equal participation

Why is it discriminatory if schools do not help students to "overcome language barriers?"

Lau vs. Nichols, 1974

Vocabulary and concepts: special services, equality of treatment

What ethnic group brought this lawsuit? What did the school district say was equality of treatment? How did the Supreme Court disagree? How could these arguments apply to students in New York City today?

Do you think that all students in your school have equal access to education? Why or why not? Do you have special textbooks and materials in your classes, to provide equal access?

Lau Remedies, 1975

Vocabulary and concepts: guidelines, remedies, primary language, racial and ethnic isolation

What groups in your school have bilingual programs? Why don't all students have them?

How many students of the same language group are needed to mandate a bilingual program, according to the Lau remedies? Do you think this is fair?

Special Alternative Instruction Programs, 1984

Vocabulary and concepts: transitional bilingual program, structured English instruction

How could the emphasis on instruction in the English language affect bilingual education programs?

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