The article explores the cultural context of a new bilingual education program in a small Southwestern town through the use of ethnographic research. The ethnographic perspective focuses on how a bilingual program can be seen as operating in the three fields of individual classrooms, school administration, and community. (Author/NQA)

A recent report by the U.S. Department of Education on the effectiveness of bilingual education programs reflects numerous issues that are at the very core of bilingual education. Two of these issues and their implications are discussed: the purpose of bilingual education and the nature of bilingual education programs. (Author/NQA)

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…

Significant questions are raised concerning the Baker/de Kanter review, which concluded that "the case for the effectiveness of transitional bilingual education is so weak that exclusive reliance on this instructional method is clearly not justified." Sources used show methodological problems and multiple examples of deficiences in nine…

Describes the development of a Title VII bilingual program in a California community where Hispanics constitute 46 percent of the population. Examines change strategies used over a ten-year period of renewal. (NEC)

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)

The thesis of the article is that learning to read developmentally through the native language at the critical reading age can turn the reading handicap of Hispanic and other bilingual children into the asset of literacy in two languages. (Author/NQA)

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)

A sociolinguistic analysis of language use among eight preschool children in a bilingual English/Hebrew classroom was conducted to examine the effects of teacher background (U.S. or Israeli born/educated) while interacting with children from bilingual or monolingual backgrounds and teacher's participation (presence or absence) in classroom…

National evaluation of Head Start bilingual curriculum development project indicated bilingual children receiving bilingual preschool services made greater preschool gains than comparison group children receiving regular English-language preschool services; English-preferring children placed in bilingual classrooms achieved similar preschool…

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)

The low birth weight criterion and other factors used for entry in 1971 into the Responsive Environment Program for Spanish-American Children (RESPAC), yielded predictions of school failure for nearly all RESPAC students. A significant finding of the 10-year follow-up study was that 86 percent of RESPAC students had normal school progress. (JHZ)

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,…

Contains information on incidence of handicapping conditions among Texas Hispanic students; delivery of special education services to handicapped Texas Hispanics; a specific example of the application of a human resource planning model to bilingual handicapped students; significant staffing needs associated with serving exceptional Hispanics.…