Supreme Court outlaws English mainstreaming

deemed unconstitutional to deny non-English speakers education based on a language barrier

just because they do not understand English does not mean that they should be excluded from education

Lau brought forth concern about "whether or not non-English-speaking students received equal educational opportunities when instructed in a language they could not understand" (Baker & Wayne, 2021)

stated that it "violate[d] both the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964" (Baker & Wayne, 2021)

Classroom settings allow minority students to gain freedom of self-expression

Comfortable classroom environments provide multiple benefits for learners

Minority students can feel more confident in themselves and assert their rights to "independent power," "decision-making," and "self-determination"

Language rights are human rights and society must understand that language diversity has played a large role politically, economically, and socially throughout history

Lau Remedies:

• created classes in English as a second language and tutoring to aid non-English speakers

• expanded use of non-English languages in schools

started the conversation on multilingual education but did not provide any framework to do so

better defined bilingual education

school grants provided funding for teaching in other languages

emphasized transitional bilingual education but did not allow dual language bilingual education

Studies argue that bilingual education is significant towards high cognitive function levels and specific tasks.

“Proficiency in two languages is associated with more enhanced cognitive function, regardless of socioeconomic status” (Fox 7).

Important because young students are able to perform better in classrooms and outside of school, benefiting their development, problem solving and overall skills for a better future.

This raises opportunities for minority students and students from low socioeconomic communities.

lifted restrictions on dual language programs

more socially accepted to continue with transitional bilingual education

News Articles at the time would call for public action in funding for the bilingual program.

They also worked as advertisements to appeal to teachers to apply for these financially covered bilingual programs.

A Model Cities Agency had given $73,000 for a curriculum development and teacher training programs.

Original Constitution doesn't list education as a Constitutional Right

14th Amendment guarantees "Equal Protection," but Supreme Court judged in 1973 that there is no fundamental right to an education as stated in the Constitution

No Constitutional right to an education = no Constitutional right to a bilingual education

First conference in 1975

Incorporated 1976

Vision: "biliteracy, mulitcultural competency, & educational equity for all" (https://www.gocabe.org/about-cabe/)

Building off of Civil Rights movement

Cautiously optimistic new age of bilingual education nationwide

Pushback was present but overall bilingual education awareness gained some followers and supporters