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Ohio became the first state to adopt a bilingual law for German and English
This law would allow German-English instruction if it was requested by the parents. -
New Mexico adopted bilingual law for Spanish and English
New Mexico passed a law recognizing and permitting Spanish instruction in public elementary schools. -
Nationality Act
This was congress' first federal language law that required all immigrants seeking naturalization to speak English. This law was put in place to help solve bilingual education issues. -
English only instruction in many states
By 1923, 34 states had laws in place that mandated English only instruction. -
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
This act provided funds for educational programs that were needed and important for children in public education. One of the programs this act funded was bilingual education. -
The Bilingual Education Act
This act made it mandatory for schools to provide bilingual education programs. This act was passed during a time when there were a lot of immigrats. -
Amendment to the Bilingual Education Act of 1968
This amendment gave schools the option of using English-only instruction. -
Proposition 187 for California
This proposition was put in place to deny illegal immigrants, or thoses suspected of being so, health care, social services, and public education. This was brought to voters in November of 1994 and was made a law. -
The Proposition 227 in California
This proposition states that all California students must be taught English as quickly as possible. Non-English speaking students are placed in a short term English immersion program for one year. All public education is required to be instructed in English. It restricts the use of native language for instruction for English learners. -
The No Child Left Behind Act
The act was originally the Bilingual Education/Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1964. This act makes it mandatory to measure every public school student's progress in reading and math from the third grade through the eight grade. This act requires all teachers that are teaching Bilingual Education programs to be fluent in English and any other language used in the classroom. This act allow parents the opportunity to enroll students in a Bilingual program for three years.
