Evaluation of the validity of the Learning Disabilities Diagnostic Inventory with limited-English-proficient (LEP) students in grades 2-7 found that nondisabled LEP students were over-identified as having intrinsic processing deficits. Examination of individual student protocols highlighted the need to train teacher-raters in language acquisition…

Analysis of a dataset of 38,887 Spanish-speaking children aged 4-6 who took the Pre-Language Assessment Scales Espanol indicates serious concerns with test validity. The "non-non" label--nonverbal in both Spanish and English--may be an artifact of poor assessment. Policies requiring routine oral native-language assessment of…

In the European Schools model, linguistically and culturally diverse students receive most of their education in their first language but must learn at least two other languages. Content teaching of other subjects in the target languages and the regular mixing of different language groups promote multilingual proficiency and cultural pluralism at…

A local university worked with a Texas elementary school serving mostly Mexican Americans to implement a two-way bilingual program, provide inservice and graduate course work for faculty, provide parent training, connect with the community, and provide field experiences for undergraduate bilingual education teachers. Test scores and community…

A study examined 19 families' perspectives in an American Sign Language (ASL)-English early childhood bilingual classroom. Family attitudes changed due to a balanced presentation from hearing and deaf perspectives, learning that the entire family could become bilingual, encouragement to interact with the deaf community, and the presentation of ASL…

In this interview, a female Hispanic principal discusses the challenges, resources, and support involved in implementing a two-way bilingual immersion model in a Hispanic community in Albuquerque (New Mexico). Program success resulted primarily from supportive parents, faculty, and superintendent and the principal's leadership style, which is…

An elementary school in a low-income, immigrant community of South Brooklyn (New York) developed a bilingual variation of the adult learning community model of professional development. Bilingual administrators and teachers collaboratively created a positive learning environment through teacher action research, coaching and mentoring, on-site…

A Massachusetts two-way bilingual education program provides initial first-language (L1) literacy development for all students, teaches half of the curriculum in L1 and half in L2 by third grade, and selectively integrates native and non-native speakers of the target language. Both target groups meet academic and linguistic goals by fifth grade.…

A Chicago two-way bilingual immersion magnet school gives equal regard to English and Spanish and values student cultures. Other features include family atmosphere, student-centered instruction, and strong parent and community collaboration. Students, including low-income limited-English-speaking students, consistently score high in English…

A case study of Davis Bilingual Magnet School in Tucson (Arizona) observed and interviewed teachers, parents, students, and community members. The school's success results from strong community support and an educational environment that privileges Spanish. Although Davis students do well on standardized tests, the school's greatest pride comes…

An ethnographic study and discourse analysis examined how a third-grade bilingual teacher in a dual-language immersion classroom used her teacher-talk to provide support for her students' learning in sociocultural, linguistic, cognitive, and academic areas. All areas of support were closely interrelated in her teaching, and all were necessary to…

A study examined the strategies used by a fourth-grade teacher in a two-way bilingual immersion program (English/Spanish) that contributed to students' development of academic language in Spanish. Analysis of a science lesson highlighted the use of an appropriate Spanish-language textbook and the teacher's use of visual elements, repetition,…

A critical ethnography of three Mexican American bilingual interns examines the barriers that minority individuals face in gaining licensure to teach. These include a salary reduction, a stressful workload, teacher exams, inability to use their bilingual education skills, and mentors with no experience in bilingual education or at the interns'…

Steps are outlined in the development of an academic language proficiency test in Spanish, to measure teacher candidates' language abilities necessary to conduct instruction in Spanish-English bilingual classrooms. Such tests must consider linguistic tasks that bilingual teachers generally perform and communicative skills in academic interaction.…

A study examined the outcomes of early bilingualism for majority-language speakers. English and Japanese proficiency of 48 Japanese high school students attending an English-medium international school in Japan were assessed using standardized tests, writing samples, and oral tasks. Students who had received initial schooling in Japanese developed…