Rapid demographic changes and an increasing recognition of the critical need for professionals who are proficient in languages other than English have led to an interest in developing language programs and classes for "heritage language learners" students who are raised in a home where a non-English language is spoken and who speak or at…

This digest briefly reviews the impacts of assimilationist education for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) and describes recent examples of successful AI/AN schools that incorporate students' native language and traditional culture into the curriculum. Beginning in the 1870s, federal policy emphasized assimilation as the goal of AI/AN…

This digest focuses on teaching Spanish to native or Hispanic heritage language students in the United States. Heritage language students are students who speak another language (in this case Spanish) as their first language either because they were born in another country or because their families speak another language at home. The entrance of…

Recent findings on the academic achievement of Hispanic students are digested in this paper. Data are derived from the study, "Make Something Happen," which was conducted by the National Commission on Secondary Education for Hispanics, and presents comprehensive findings on Hispanic education drawn from a special analysis of the Hispanic…

This monograph describes implications for public schools of rapidly growing populations of Mexican-Americans and other language minorities and recommends ways to eliminate institutional barriers to equity and excellence in education. It presents current information about such issues as dropout rates, reading levels, and participation in advanced…

Since 1975, the political climate has increasingly supported the inclusion of American Indian culture and language in Native education and the training of Native teachers. Native teachers enhance the teacher-student relationship for Native students, are role models for Native youth, and are aware of Native learning styles. The ongoing Native…

There are no good figures on the number of limited English speakers who are also illiterate in their native languages. This data is worth having because there is research indicating that literacy in the native language plays an important role in the acquisition of oral English and the development of English literacy. This digest reviews recent…

This book describes the unique educational program established in 1980 for United States-bound refugees in Southeast Asia. It analyzes the forces that led to the launching of the program and discusses some of its most innovative practices. Written by the program planners and educators, the book focuses on the following: providing instruction in…

This curriculum sourcebook is designed as a guide for educators of limited-English-speaking adults in literacy education programs. It consists of accounts of actual learning and teaching experiences using a participatory approach to instruction and curriculum development, written by teachers in community-based adult education. An introductory…