History of Education- Latino/Hispanic Students

By NorahStott

  • Mexican-American War

    Ending in 1848, this war had a significant impact on Education for Hispanic/Latino Students. After the U.S. gained control and territory, English became the only language used and instructed in classrooms, Spanish was not allowed. Over time, English-only policies were implemented in many areas making it difficult to be successful academically. Of course this also led to a widespread period of segregation, which also meant lower quality education.

  • Mendez vs Westminster School

    "In 1945, Gonzalo Mendez and other Mexican-American parents sued Westminster and 3 other Orange County school districts in federal court. The parents argued segregating K–12 students based on their nationality or ethnic background violated the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
    After a judge ruled in favor of the parents, the school district appealed. Mendez and the other parents would prevail, making it the first successful federal school desegregation decision in the nation."

  • Brown v Board of Education

    This focuses on the segregation of schools and the "separate but equal" clause. This didn't only benefit Black students, but also indirectly helped Hispanic/Latino Students. This case was based on segregation by race, but it is argued that it helped put an end to segregation as a whole, including segregation by ethnicity. Ended in 1954

  • Bilingual Education Act

    "Also known as Title VII, the act was the first federal recognition that limited-English speaking-ability (LESA) students have special educational needs. In the interest of equal educational opportunity,bilingual programs that address those needs should be federally funded. It formally recognized ethnic minorities could seek differentiated services for reasons other than
    segregation or racial discrimination. It also encouraged instruction in language other than English."

  • The Improving America's Schools Act (IASA)

    "President Clinton signs the act, which reauthorizes the ESEA of 1965 and includes reforms for Title I;one of which is increased funding for bilingual and immigrant education. It authorized $215 million for competitive grants toward development and implementation of bilingual-education programs, which can include improving school-wide or district-wide bilingual-education effort. It also allocated $35 million for “innovative model programs” to establish or improve foreign-language instruction."

  • No Child Left Behind Act

    "The act reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education act of 1965 and replaced the Bilingual Education Act of 1968. It put a special focus on ensuring that states and schools boost the performance of certain groups of students, such as English-language learners, students in special education, and poor and minority children, whose achievement, on average, trails their peers."

  • Every Student Succeeds Act

    Replacement for "No Child Left Behind". "The main difference is a focus on greater autonomy for each individual state."