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Back in the 1700s and 1800s, many settlers spoke their native languages like German, Dutch, and French in their schools and churches. Because there wasn’t a national education system, local communities had the freedom to teach in their own languages. -
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By the mid-1800s, things started to change. Nationalism grew, and people wanted everyone to speak English to become more “American.” This led to English-only schools and, unfortunately, Native American children were forced to attend boarding schools where their languages and cultures were suppressed. -
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With lots of new immigrants arriving, many Americans worried about “foreign influence.” Bilingualism was seen as a problem, not an advantage. Laws in some states even banned teaching in languages other than English.
However, some bilingual education still happened quietly in communities like German churches or schools. Dewey believed that education was necessary and instrumental for social change and reform -
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The Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education said all students deserve equal education, which opened doors for bilingual programs. -
Cuban immigration to Miami in the 1960s led to the Coral Way Elementary experiment, the first modern bilingual program. -
The 1968 Bilingual Education Act was the first federal law supporting bilingual education, mainly to help students who didn’t speak English well. -
Another Supreme Court case, Lau v. Nichols in 1974, said that treating all students the same isn’t fair if some don’t understand English. Schools had to provide meaningful help, like ESL or bilingual classes. -
In the 1980s, bilingual education became politicized, with a lot of debates framed around “English-only” vs. “multiculturalism.” -
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Proposition 227 in California, and similar initiatives in AZ and MA dismantled bilingual programs, pushed “English immersion.” -
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The federal shift from NCLB to ESSA gave states more flexibility to meet ELL needs, focusing on realistic goals for both language and academics. -
Today, many people recognize that being bilingual is a huge advantage, there’s a move toward “dual-language” programs that help both English and non-English speakers keep both languages (additive bilingualism). The Seal of Biliteracy (now adopted in nearly all states) formally recognizes bilingual high school graduates.