The School Improvement Act of 1987, H.R. 5, has been approved in the House of Representatives. This bill reauthorizes 14 existing federal elementary and secondary programs and creates a new program for gifted and talented children's education. The majority of the programs in H.R. 5 are designed to improve services for educationally disadvantaged children. The two major programs being reauthorized are Chapter 1 and Bilingual Education. For the first time the Chapter 1 program will provide for the participation of children and parents who are limited English proficient (LEP) and will provide special services for preschool children and secondary school students. A serious concern in H.R. 5 is the funding priority given to English-only programs for LEP children. Despite a body of research that indicates that programs making no use of a child's native language are the least effective in promoting language acquisition and subject matter competency, the majority of new funds will be awarded to these programs. The existing federal support for truly bilingual programs will continue at its present level. Actual enactment of this legislation is not expected until 1988. (VM)