This book describes the evolution of bilingual education in the United States, emphasizing its relationship to educational and civil rights reform. Federal, state, and district policies affecting the implementation of bilingual programs are identified, along with related legal, political, demographic, and economic factors and controversies. International comparisons of bilingual education programs illustrate additional types of language education and policies that incorporate diverse groups into mainstream society. Eight chapters include the following: (1) "Introduction: What Is Bilingual Education?" (e.g., English language instruction, indigenous students, and submersion); (2) "Chronology: The Evolution of Teacher Education"; (3) "Local Bilingual Education Policies and Curriculum" (e.g., characteristics of language minority students, funding, and two-way programs); (4) "State Policies and Bilingual Education" (e.g., state action in education, bridge programs, and state profiles); (5) "Bilingual Education and Federal Law" (e.g., federal authorization, federal incentives, and federal requirements or prohibitions); (6) "Politics and the Challenge of Linguistic Diversity" (e.g., immigration, school finance reform, and identity politics); (7) "Directory of Agencies and Organizations Associated with Bilingual Education"; and (8) "Print and Nonprint Resources" (annotated bibliographies). (Chapters contain references.) (SM)