The document outlines key laws, policies, court cases and decisions that established protections and requirements for educating English language learners in the United States from 1868 to 1998. Some of the most significant events included the 14th Amendment establishing a basis for educating language minority students in 1868, Brown vs Board of Education establishing equal educational opportunity in 1954, and Proposition 227 changing how English learners are taught in California in 1998.

1. ESL Exam Review - Lesson 2: ESL Timeline
Law, Policy or Decision Date Significance
14th Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution
1868 Law that established constitutional basis
for education of language minority
students
Brown vs. Board of
Education
1954 Court decision that declared "separate
but equal" education unconstitutional,
thereby establishing equal educational
opportunity
Title VI Civil Rights Act 1964 Prohibits discrimination on the basis of
race, color or national origins
Bilingual Education Acts 1968 &
1974
Provided supplemental funding for
schools with “special educational needs”
Department of HEW
Memorandum
1970 Identification of discrimination and denial
of services on basis of national origin
Equal Educational
Opportunities Act
1974 Law that defined "denial of equal
educational opportunity"
Lau vs. Nichols 1974 Court decision that ‘sink or swim’ did not
constitute equality of treatment
Lau Remedies 1975 HEW established some basic guidelines
for schools with LEP students
Civil Rights Language
Minority Regulations
1980 Law that established requirements for
bilingual education including
identification, assessment, services, exit,
and qualified teachers
Castenada vs. Pickard 1981 Case in Texas charging district failed to
address needs of ELL’s as mandated by
EEOA
Idaho vs. Migrant Council 1981 Established legal responsibility of State
Dept. of Education to monitor
implementation of programs for LEP
students
Teresa P. vs. Berkeley
Unified
1987 Court decision that used the standards
from the Castaneda vs. Pickard decision
to evaluate district LEP program
Illinois vs. Gomez 1987 Sate responsibility includes establishing
and enforcing minimums for
implementation of language mediation
programs from LEP to FEP
Teresa P. vs. Berkeley
Unified
1987 Court decision that used the standards
from the Castaneda vs. Pickard decision
to evaluate district LEP program
Proposition 227 1998 Changed the way LEP students are
taught in California

2. ESL Exam Review - Lesson 2: ESL Timeline