1. The Bilingual Education Act of 1968 (Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965):
* This was the first federal law to specifically address the needs of non-English speaking students. It provided funding for bilingual education programs in schools.
* The act aimed to ensure that students whose native language wasn't English could succeed in school and become fluent in English.
* It offered support for developing and implementing bilingual programs, training teachers, and conducting research.
2. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001:
* While not directly a "Bilingual Education Act," NCLB significantly impacted bilingual education.
* It required states to demonstrate "adequate yearly progress" for all students, including English Language Learners (ELLs).
* NCLB emphasized English language proficiency, leading to a shift towards English-only immersion programs and away from bilingual education in many schools.
3. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015:
* ESSA replaced NCLB, providing more flexibility to states regarding how they measure student achievement and implement education policies.
* It maintained the focus on English language proficiency for ELLs but offered states more options for supporting their educational needs.
Which Act are you referring to? Providing more context will help me give you a more precise answer. For example, are you interested in:
* The history of bilingual education in the US?
* The impact of the No Child Left Behind Act on bilingual education?
* The current state of bilingual education policy?
Please tell me what you'd like to know about the "Bilingual Education Act" so I can provide you with a more accurate and relevant response.