Chapter 6: Language Education Policies and Latino Youth

There has been a steady increase in the Latino¹ English learner (ELs) population since 1965 (García & Frede, 2010; Krogstad & Keegan, 2014). Today, of the approximately 20% of students who speak a language other than English at home, 70% speak Spanish (García & Frede, 2010). Despite a growing presence of Latino ELs in schools for more than four decades and a Supreme Court decision (Lau v. Nichols, 1974) proclaiming schools’ responsibility to ensure equitable instructional access for ELs, their educational experiences and outcomes vary widely. The variation in ELs’ experiences stem from disparate state policies aimed at addressing their English proficiency.