A generation or two ago, the achievement of children who came to school knowing little or no English was not a prominent national issue. Today, with the increased focus on school accountability and educational equity, it is. This comprehensive resource explores the research on promoting academic success among language-minority students. The authors offer educators a firm basis for making decisions on policies and programs for English learners and provide research-based discussions on what we know about: (1) Bilingual education and using a student's home language in instruction; (2) Teaching English and academic content simultaneously; (3) School and district factors that affect achievement for English learners; and (4) Sociocultural factors in success, including the influence of parents and families. Contents of this book include: (1) Why This Book?; (2) The Role of the Home Language; (3) Literacy Instruction in a Second Language; (4) Promoting English Oral Language Development; (5) Academic Instruction in a Second Language; (6) School and District Role: Focus and Coherence; (7) Social, Cultural, and Family Influences; (8) The Research Goes to School; and (9) Conclusion: What's Next? This book also includes: (1) List of Tables and Figures; (2) Acknowledgments; (3) About the Authors; (4) Glossary; and (5) Index.