The federally-mandated report on the status of bilingual education in the United States: (1) reports on programmatic, research, and training activities administered by the Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs (OBEMLA) within the Department of Education; (2) describes the coordination of OBEMLA programs with other offices within the Department of Education and other federal agencies and programs; and (3) identifies and discusses key aspects of education programs for limited English proficient (LEP) students. The report begins with a brief overview of the legislative background of the Bilingual Education Act of 1968 and a discussion of how bilingual education relates to the six national educational goals identified by the President and governors. The second chapter addresses the identification, placement, and demographic characteristics of LEP students. Chapter 3 describes results of research on LEP instructional strategies, program evaluations, capacity building, and training of educational personnel. The fourth chapter focuses on OBEMLA's role in administering programs authorized by the legislation. The final chapter contains a policy analysis and recommendations for future federal involvement. (MSE)