Reviews research literature on the effectiveness of bilingual education programs. Argues that scientifically valid evaluation studies offer no consistent support for transitional bilingual education as a superior practice for improving the English-language achievement of limited English proficient (LEP) children and, in fact, suggest evidence of…

This study of five bilingual special education teachers identified three factors affecting attempts to change instructional practices: (1) a positive correlation between special education training and a reductionist approach; (2) relationship between changing both instructional practices and beliefs; and (3) the importance of including fellow…

The Lower Kuskokwim School District in southwest Alaska developed Yup'ik language materials to support the curriculum and, trained school staff in bilingual practices. The district school in Quinhagak adopted Yup'ik as the primary language of instruction through fifth grade, taught by Yup'ik-speaking teachers. The tribal council offered support in…

Ten preservice bilingual teachers went to Mexican elementary and junior high schools to gain a better understanding of immigrant students' needs. They gathered data on school structure, classroom interactions and management, and educational strategies. They found that Mexican children achieve despite disadvantaged conditions, immigrant students…

This paper describes the development of Spanish-language proficiency in bilingual preservice teachers at a university on the Texas--Mexico border. A survey with open-ended questions was administered to preservice teachers in bilingual and English as a Second Language certification programs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the paths…

Presents the responses of 10 teachers, most of whom are English as a Second Language or bilingual program instructors, to two incidents involving cross-cultural issues. The question of whether it is right to impose the dominant culture on a cultural minority student is addressed. To be responsible, teachers need more information about minority…

A study was conducted to determine the effect of different techniques used in teaching English as a second language to children in bilingual elementary schools. (CFM)

An innovative English and Spanish instructional program for grades six through eight in a south Texas district integrates language and content areas, uses both languages, implements literacy strategies typical of elementary programs, accommodates varying Spanish and English proficiency and limited prior schooling, and employs Mexican teachers as…

Interviews and observations of a first-grade mathematics class to determine the influence of Proposition 227 on limited-English-speaking students found that many initial fears about Proposition 227 were unfounded; student ability to cope was underestimated; teacher knowledge of Spanish and Latino culture was critical; and students' limited English…

In this article, the authors describe the results of research that explored how Proposition 227--a measure that mandates English immersion instruction for all English language learners--has affected bilingual teachers at varying points in their professional development. The perspectives of preservice, novice and veteran bilingual teachers offer…

Support for bilingual education continues to grow nationwide. Increased support for the concept of using English with the non-English mother tongue (NEMT) resulted from several factors. The total population of NEMT children in the U.S. grew to 5 million in 1973, while the number of Spanish-speaking children rose to 3.2 million in 1970. The…

In the past 25 years, both content and context of American Indian education have changed tremendously, largely due to a dynamic interplay between federal language policy and initiatives generated by Indian schools and communities. This paper integrates a historical analysis of federal language policy with comparative ethnographic data from Indian…

A study of 8 California school districts immediately following passage of Proposition 227, and another study of 39 districts a year later interviewed personnel, principals, and teachers about implementation of the English Only initiative. Specific implementation strategies reflected schools' previous programmatic efforts for limited English…

A year-long study followed two bilingual (English/Spanish) middle school teachers as training helped them to develop a new way of interacting with students during content teaching. To enhance student comprehension, the teachers moved away from concurrent translation and made efforts to distribute language usage so that they spent equal amounts of…

The establishment of bilingual special education teams in a primarily Hispanic, urban, southwest school district is discussed. Issues include perceptions of team members' roles in the school, problems in assuming an active classroom consultation role, problems in supporting maintenance of school-based teams, and perceptions of the consultant's…