BILINGUAL PROGRAMS LAWS
The 14th Amendment of 1868 - ANSWER Cannot be denied benefits of
federally funded programs based on race, color or national origin
Meyer v. Nebraska 1923 USSC - ANSWER Meyer spoke to students in
German, Supreme Court overturned Nebraska law stating that it violated 14th
Amendment to limit individual rights
Civil Rights Act of 1964 - ANSWER Prohibits discrimination on basis of race,
color, or national origin in the operation of all federally assisted programs
Title VI allowed funds to be withheld from school districts that maintained
segregation or did not promote integration
1968 Bilingual Education Act - ANSWER Did not force schools to offer
bilingual programming but encouraged bilingual education for economically
disadvantaged language minority students
The Equal Education Opportunity Act of 1974 - ANSWER Makes educational
institutions responsible for overcoming racial, linguistic, cultural learning
barriers
Lau v. Nichols 1974 USSC - ANSWER 800 Chinese students in San Francisco
schools argued they were forced to sink/swim
Reinforced that it was school district's responsibility to provide the necessary
programs and accommodations to children who do not speak English
1975-1981 Lau Remedies: promoted transitional bilingual education programs
Castaneda v. Pickard 1981 5th circuit - ANSWER Created guidelines: 1)
Theory: must be based on sound educational theory 2) Practice: must have
sufficient resources and personnel 3) Results: must prove to be effective
Plyler v. Doe 1982 USSC - ANSWER Free education no matter legal status of
children/parents
Schools cannot make public family's status
