No Child Left Behind: Repealing and “Unpeeling” Federal Language Education Policy in the United States
Penn collection
Degree type
Discipline
Subject
Teaching and Learning
No Child Left Behind
bilingual education
language planning orientation
scientifically based research
onion metaphor
teachers’ understandings
language minority education
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
Curriculum and Instruction
Education
Education Policy
Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration
Funder
Grant number
License
Copyright date
Distributor
Related resources
Author
Contributor
Abstract
For more than three decades U.S. language education policy was realized through the Bilingual Education Act (BEA), enacted in 1968 to meet the educational needs of language minority students. The BEA emphasized bilingual education and provided options for the development of students’ native language as well as their English language proficiency and academic achievement. In 2002 the BEA was replaced with the English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act. Current policy implicitly repeals the BEA and emphasizes the need for schools to quickly develop students' English language proficiency and move them to English only classrooms. Drawing on Ricento and Hornberger's (1996) "onion metaphor" for the multi-layered nature of language planning and policy, this paper considers the potential impact changes in language education policy may have on programs and practices for language minority students. A summary of interview responses from a small sample of Southern Oregon educators adds an on the ground perspective.