The People vs. Political Power: Controlling Bilingual Education
Immigrants of different ethnic and cultural origins contribute to the “melting pot,” which construct the multicultural identity of the United States. Bilingual education gives immigrant families the choice to develop their skills in English, and their native tongue. Today this is not the case, as the current No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 policies are ineffective and detrimental to the Spanish-Speaking population through the restructuring and limiting of bilingual education.
The United States government responded to large growing population of children English Language Learner (ELL) students in public schools through the reauthorization of the Bilingual Education act in 1994 (BEA). The BEA provided funding to encourage states to further develop bilingual education programs.
President George W. Bush introduced NCLB in 2002, because politicians argued that bilingual education was ineffective. However, NCLB is hindering the progress of ELL students, for the policy is negatively influencing the bilingual educational system.
The specifications of the law set unrealistic high standards for ELL students. Although $723 million dollars are given to states through The English Language Acquisition Grants program, these funds are spread thinly to schools based on formulas that calculate whether a school is eligible. In 2005, only $109 dollars was given to schools per eligible student. Schools are required to closely monitor the progress of each ELL students through standardized testing, and meet adequate yearly progress assessments.
Standardized test are created for native English-speakers, not ELLs. Through reading and writing, standardized tests are mainly language proficiency exams and puts ELL students at a disadvantage because those skills are what they lack. Schools are forced to eliminate bilingual instruction in order increase time to focus on reading and math skills for standardized tests. ELL students are not given the proper instruction and attention they need because the emphasis of test preparation.
Low results of standardized test causes schools to be labeled as failing. Schools are must take responsibility for the shortcomings of student performances according to NCLB. This is known as the “test and punishment” policy.
The people must take action to stop schools and students from suffering. The National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) advocates for the reformation of the NCLB and has rallied support from over 60 education and civil rights organizations, to support The Alliance for Fair and Effective Accountability proposal, of which offers recommendations to Congress. Congress should make significant changes to the law that would redirect the focus of setting “ambitious achievement targets” for students, decrease the test burden on states through eliminating “test and punishment” policies, and allow schools to make their own changes to improve student achievement before suffering funding sanctions.
Bilingual restriction policies such as NCLB goes against the principles of multiculturalism on which our country was created. We must fight for reformations of policies such as NCLB because each ELL child should be given the resources to excel in school. We must defend the people in our multicultural country that we call America.