This theme issue focuses on instructional practices, evaluation, and the state of bilingual education. "Effective Implementation of Bilingual Programs: Reflections from the Field" (Abelardo Villarreal, Adela Solis) describes the key characteristics of successful bilingual programs: vision and goals; program leadership; linkage to central…

This collection of essays focuses on issues in bilingual education. First, Elizabeth Flynn examines different kinds of bilingual programs; efforts made towards cultural pluralism in a number of countries; national benefits to be derived from bilingualism; the needs of American ethnic groups, new immigrants, and foreign students; and the pros and…

This bibliography was prepared to help educators locate recent research on bilingual education. It is divided into two parts: dissertations on bilingual education and data-based journal articles on bilingual education. The first part is taken from Dissertation Abstracts International from January, 197l through November, 1976, under the headings of…

This report answers questions commonly asked about bilingual education in the United States, by persons who may be puzzled and wish to have more information. The questions addressed are: (1) What exactly is bilingual education and why is it so important to Hispanics? (2) Other immigrant groups of the past did not need bilingual education. Why is…

The content of the 1988 Bilingual Education Act, which is part of Public Law 100-297 (the Hawkins/Stafford Elementary and Secondary School Improvement Amendments) and which reauthorized bilingual education through September 30, 1993, is examined. The 1988 reauthorization was the fourth reauthorization of the original Bilingual Education Act of…

The core of the case for bilingual education is that the principles underlying successful bilingual education emphasize the same factors that underlie successful language acquisition in general: understanding messages and obtaining comprehensible input; using background knowledge; and the development of literacy. The importance of the first…

Critics of bilingual education have cited the high Hispanic dropout rate as evidence against bilingual education. Since most bilingual education programs are Spanish-English, it is concluded that bilingual education must be responsible. Research shows some factors predicting dropout rates, including low English language ability, poverty, length of…

The special issue of the journal is devoted to a variety of historical, educational, and policy issues arising in the debate over establishing English as the single official language of the United States. Articles on this topic include: "Bilingual Education and English-Only: A Language Planning Framework" (Nancy H. Hornberger);…

Two topics are discussed in this publication: evaluation needs in bilingual education, and desegregation and the rights of Hispanic students. Evaluation needs in bilingual education were identified from three sources; a review of federal and state legislation for the design and evaluation of bilingual education, including program implementation…

This collection of short articles focuses on bilingual education for Hispanics. The lead article cites statistics concerning the education of Hispanics, the segregation of Hispanics in schools, and the educational level they are likely to attain. The second article presents a historical perspective on bilingual education in American schools and…

This report summarizes advances in bilingual education that help linguistically and culturally diverse (LCD) students reach high levels of achievement and performance. Factors to be considered include the native language, bilingualism and academic achievement, curriculum, parental and community influences, and programmatic evaluation. The reports…

Changes in the legislative history of specialized education for students of limited English proficiency are described in this paper, beginning with the authorization of the Bilingual Education Act of 1968 and going through the reauthorizations of the Act in 1974, 1978, 1984, and 1988. Important events surrounding the legislative action are also…

This issue contains five articles on aspects of bilingualism and bilingual education, as well as documentation on the "Centre Mondial d'Information sur l'Education Bilingue" (CMIEB). The introductory article presents reasons for being able to communicate in more than one language in the world as it is today, and proposes that bilingual education…

A discussion of public policy concerning bilingual education looks at why and how policy should be re-focused on helping Limited English Proficient (LEP) students make academic gains. It first examines some characteristics of the highly diverse and rapidly growing LEP population, including varied academic background, tendency to reside in small…

A survey of the 50 United States investigated laws and policy concerning programs for limited-English-proficient (LEP) students in elementary and secondary schools. This summary outlines state requirements imposed on schools regarding specific types of programs that must be offered to LEP students, the number of LEP students to be served, and the…