-
1906: The Nationality Act (Texas)
Required immigrants to speak English in order to begin the process of becoming naturalized, legitimized the use of language as a mode of exclusion and discrimination. -
1923: Meyer v. Nebraska
Forbidding the teaching in school of any language other than English until the pupil has passed the eight grade violates the 14th Amendment that guarantees liberty. -
1949: Mo Hock Ke Lok Po v. Stainback
Parents have the right to have their children taught in a foreign language. This helped students understand assignments and material since many didn't speak english at all and only knew their native language. -
1954: Brown v. Board of Education
This became known as the 1st Major Education Policy. It desegregated all public schools. This was huge for all the ELL students because it opened up a whole new world to all of them. -
1964: Civil Rights Act
This act prohibited all discrimination based on race, color, or national origin when applying for financial assistance. This act was the start of all bilingual education in the United States. -
1968: Bilingual Education Act
This act, signed by president Lyndon B. Johnson, established it to be federal policy for low income children to receive the benefit to be in a bilingual education program. It made funds available to train and carry on this type of program for non-English speakers. -
1974: Bilingual Education Act
This act was a reauthorization of the 1968 Bilingual Act. This expanded requirements to all ELL students, despite any socioeconomic status. It required all public schools to comply, whether they received federal funding or not. It also provided schools with the funds to integrate and try out bilingual programs. -
1974: Lau v. Nichols
Lau v. Nichols, to this date, is the major precedent when it comes to the educational rights of language minorities. This case mainly impacted the Chinese speaking students and communities. -
1981: Castaneda v. Pickard
This case determined whether a school district was serving the LEP students and if the program addressed all their needs. It had three principles: "It must be based on a sound educational theory,
implemented effectively, with adequate resources and personnel, and after a trial period, it must be evaluated as effective in overcoming language handicaps". -
2002: No Child Left Behind Act
This act, signed by President George W. Bush, stated that all states were required to test annually, take record of academic progress, send out report cards and meet teacher qualifications. This act created a new grant program called, "Reading First" and made funds more flexible. This act affected ALL students.
