This survey of research on bilingualism focuses on a controversy over methods for teaching reading, namely, should non-readers achieve literacy in their native language before learning to read a second language? As a report of the results of various studies shows, both proponents of prior native language literacy and proponents of prior second language literacy have much evidence to support their views. It is concluded that social, economic, and political issues have been the confounding factors in determining which is the more desirable precedence. The experimental design of a number of studies is also called into question. It is concluded that further research must be conducted with firm control of variables in order to determine if one method is in fact superior to the other. A compilation of studies on the subject of reading alternatives for bilingual students and a bibliography are appended. (JB)