To assess perceptions and opinions about the local bilingual education program, 179 randomly selected individuals were surveyed by telephone and 37 Spanish-speaking individuals were interviewed in Spanish. Results showed that the majority felt bilingual education was the best way for Spanish-speaking children to learn English and funding should be…

Stresses that if bilingual education is to survive and grow, it is necessary to educate the general public about the benefits of bilingualism for both the limited English speaking and the English dominant, regardless of ethnicity. Suggests 10 strategies for promoting bilingual education and nurturing positive attitudes and commitments. (NEC)

Within the bilingual education movement there is an analysis of the situation regarding "assimilation" and "cultural pluralism" in the U.S. that is a threat to bilingual education. Many assume that a new social situation has asserted itself whereby "cultural pluralism" has become a more powerful value than…

Finds that, among 2100 Hispanic elementary students in a four-stage bilingual program, primary language achievement, instructional level, and oral English performance were important indicators of English reading achievement scores and readiness for reclassification to an all-English program. Contains 17 references and 9 tables. (Author/SV)

A history of the influences and pressures shaping the evolution of bilingual education legislation in Texas (1965-73) illustrates how different and opposed political factions and philosophical views have shaped programs to teach language minority children such as Mexican Americans. (MH)

The article reviews some of the controversial issues regarding macro- and micro-ethnographic approaches and their implications for validity of ethnographic description, discusses the notion of context and its application to various research settings, and gives an account of the various problems encountered by researchers working in bilingual…

Finds that 25 Spanish-dominant Mexican-American students in a transitional bilingual program for grades one-three maintained Spanish reading achievement scores above national norms, and had English reading scores that equaled or surpassed those of 118 English-dominant Mexican-American students in regular classes. Contains 28 references. (SV)

In 1982, 13 public school administrators were surveyed to identify issues and problems in bilingual education program administration. Key success factors are supportive leadership, staff training, effective educational technology, community-parent-teacher participation, flexibility, product-process considerations, theoretical understanding, and…

The study determined if a revision in the spatial organization of the response format of the O.V. subtest of the Test of General Abilities, Level I, significantly affected the test performance of 88 six- and seven-year-old Puerto Rican pupils from bilingual classes in three public schools in a large Connecticut city. (NQ)

Bilingual parents can help the teacher in developing culture-related reading activities and with students' emotional adjustments. They can help the librarian in reading and language arts related activities. At home, they can give children the confidence and reassurance needed to learn successfully in a different language environment. (NQ)

Identifies differences between bilingual programs for minority language children and second-language immersion programs for majority language children. Examines points of mutual relevance between approaches. Discusses exemplary characteristics of effective second-language learning environments: integration of language and academic instruction,…

Evaluates metalinguistic awareness and cognitive functioning of 23 bilingual and 23 monolingual mildly retarded students. Results indicate bilingual subjects did not outperform monolingual subjects on neo-Piagetian measure of conservation, although there were differences on metalinguistic tasks. Discusses results in relation to current theories of…

The article responds to Rosaura Sanchez' specific criticisms of the Bilingual Syntax Measure regarding its rationale, administration, and uses, as well as defining and clarifying some of the more important theoretical and practical questions in the language testing field raised by the Sanchez review. (NQ)

The article reports on aspects of a recent study of classroom practices in the teaching of ESL reading to Spanish children in bilingual programs. A major finding of the study was that ESL pupils were dropped from ESL reading instruction at a very low reading level (second book, second level), regardless of age. (Author/NQ)

Describes and analyzes more than 75 years of research on the relationship between bilingualism and scholastic performance. Emphasizes studies of particular interest to educators, explains apparent contradictions in the research, and makes recommendations for policies with regard to bilingual and foreign language programs. (JHZ)