Culture and Inclusion

Question 1

No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

Answer 1

• Raised expectations for states and school districts.
• Requires that all students “meet or exceed” state standards in reading/math.
• Requires states to establish a testing system and academic standards according to federal guidelines.
• Requires that schools show “Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)” of student achievement
• Parents can choose their child’s school if the public school isn’t making AYP.
• Requires that LEP(Limited English Proficiency) students become English proficient and attain minimum or better reading/LA/math scores.

Question 2

IDEA

Answer 2

Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act is for children with disabilities, enabling them to receive adequate services needed. Some of the topics covered include:

• governing of agencies that offer early intervention
• special education services for disabled children
• infant and toddler intervention

Question 3

Proposition 227

Answer 3

This proposition by the State of California covers many aspects of education, including:

• requirement of instruction to be taught in English
• placement into one year’s worth of English immersion for students who are not fluent in English
• funding for individuals who instruct students in English via private tutoring.

Question 4

Williams v State of California

Answer 4

This case was filed in response to the belief that the public school system in California was not adequately providing for the students of the state. The suit claimed that the basic educational tools were lacking and that students’ education was prohibited. The suit was filed against the State and the outcome was that a new process was put in place for complaints regarding unsafe or unhealthy school building conditions, teacher vacancies, teachers assigned to teach classes they were not qualified to teach and poor materials or a shortage of instructional materials such as textbooks.

Question 5

Lau v Nichols

Answer 5

This suit charged that non-English speaking students who entered schools in California were basically told to “sink or swim” and learn the language, but that this mentality is a violation of the students’ rights. The “Lau Remedies” were the result of the suit and the court told the state that it must require the schools to teach English and to provide meaningful instruction to do so. Additionally, students were to be placed in a suitable environment to deal with the special needs of the language learners.

Question 6

Bilingualism

Answer 6

One who is proficient in two languages, a dominant and a secondary language. Children who hear both languages at home or one at home and another at school are most often bilingual.

Question 7

English-only movement

Answer 7

A grass-roots movement that has grown in size and support, this group is pushing for English to be declared the “official and only” language for the citizens of the United States.