Bilingual Education in the United States 1950-1980

Brown vs. Board of Education Act

1952-1954

Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 (1954), was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that U.S. state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional, even if the segregated schools are otherwise equal in quality.

1974: Lau vs Nicholas

1974: Lau v. Nichols (414 US 563); U.S. Supreme Court rules that LESA children (limited English speaking ability) were entitled to some sort of remedial instruction. The Lau decision mandates no specific remedy. Generally used to support bilingual education programs. In its opinion, the Court stated:"Students who do not understand English are effectively foreclosed from any meaningful instruction. . . . We know that those who do not understand English are certain to find their classroom experience wholly incomprehensible and in no way meaningful."