The following interview was conducted with Catherine Elder in spring of 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic. Cathie has had a varied career in language testing, including work at universities in Australia and New Zealand and at the Language Testing Resource Center in Melbourne. In this interview, Cathie shares some highlights of her somewhat…

This article argues for the value of heritage language programs and the micro-level language policies that support them, focusing on a case study of a program in the USA to make this argument. We also argue for the importance of recognizing students' heritage languages, cultures, and individual goals and identities in mainstream school programs.…

A discussion of public policy concerning bilingual education looks at why and how policy should be re-focused on helping Limited English Proficient (LEP) students make academic gains. It first examines some characteristics of the highly diverse and rapidly growing LEP population, including varied academic background, tendency to reside in small…

Although more money is being spent on bilingual education, legislators are becoming increasingly hostile to programs that use languages other than English. Underachievement of primarily Hispanic students is widely seen as a failure of bilingual education, despite evidence suggesting that other, largely socioeconomic factors play a significant…

This paper outlines work undertaken by FIPLV as an affiliate of UNESCO in the development of a document outlining linguistic human rights. The paper examines how subsequent drafts have been modified and identifies some of the difficulties experienced in developing the drafts. After more than two decades of work, the process is still incomplete.…

Supports the theory of language policy formulation in a "conflict" paradigm (involving value, resources, and power) with a case example of the development of Ontario's Native language policy. Research and theory were applied to policy formulation when there was significant consensus regarding both societal and educational goals. (CB)

Discusses the relationship between research, theory, and policy in language policy formulation in the context of a "conflict" paradigm. In bilingual programs in the United States and Canada, the sociological context of the debate plays a major role in determining the choice of issues to investigate. (CB)

An Australian study developed recommendations, policies, models, and strategies for the establishment, maintenance, and evaluation of bilingual education programs in preschool and child care centers, as either full bilingual programs or bilingual components of other programs. Results are presented here. The methodology used was to describe and…

A statement of national policy on languages for Australia, submitted for government consideration in response to official concern, is presented. It begins with an introductory section on the importance of language, and then provides a rationale for national language policy formulation in Australia's varied language context. A section on policy…