Presents results of a survey of about 65 percent of Ottawa's graduates of bilingual education programs in 1978-79 and 1979-80 concerning their education and employment since high school, their plans, self-assessed level of French proficiency, actual or expected use of French, and opinions of the program and its effects. (MSE)

This study surveyed 227 teachers of English Language Learners (ELLs) in New York City public schools about the adequacy of the school and classroom services provided to ELLs to help them meet the challenges of New York City's updated promotion and graduation standards. In addition to the teachers' surveys, the report compiles data from the New…

During the 1994-1995 school year, the town of Sierre/Siders implemented and evaluated the first bilingual kindergarten class in the Valais canton of Switzerland. The following year the towns of Sion/Sitten and Monthey in the same canton also launched bilingual education classes. In these bilingual classes German is introduced as a second language…

This paper provides an overview of the Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) program, a comprehensive approach to reading and writing instruction for grades K-8, as well as its Spanish adaptation, Bilingual Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (BCIRC). The program's goal is to improve student achievement in reading,…

This report summarizes the results of California Proposition 227 so far based on standardized test scores (the Stanford 9) of Limited-English-proficient (LEP) students in reading, math, and language. It also analyzes the redesignation rates of students by district. California Proposition 227, also known as the "English for the Children"…

The United States has at least three historically established patterns of language use: English monolingualism, multilingualism, and bilingualism. The United States could best be described at present as a multilingual nation in which English is the dominant language. English is promoted to varying degrees, but linguistic diversity is tolerated.…

Describes efforts in one Oregon school district to learn about and help Southeast Asian refugee families adjust to American schools. Discusses data from a survey of refugee parents and ethnographic observations, and provides information on family characteristics, cross cultural communication, parent involvement in schools, and bilingualism.…

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…

Argues that educational research does not support the effects of transitional bilingual education as a superior instructional practice for improving the English-language achievement of limited-English-proficient students. Real studies are needed of the effectiveness of intensive English language instruction. (SLD)

Personal narratives of California teachers in linguistically diverse classrooms portray four models of bilingual education: ESL, sheltered English, and peer tutors; ESL, sheltered English, and some or adequate first-language support; and bilingual education including native-language instruction. Reflects on negative teacher attitudes, hidden…

Describes efforts by Texas' University of St. Thomas (UST) to respond to growing numbers of Spanish-speaking students. Highlights a collaborative effort between UST, Shell Oil, and Helms Elementary School to create a bilingual school committed to instilling high expectations in students, fostering community identity, and maintaining strong…

Discusses why and how American Sign Language should be used to teach English literacy skills. It is argued that previous studies have not systematically investigated the effects of American Sign Language on the development of English. (22 references) (CB) (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse on Literacy Education)

Describes a longitudinal evaluation of two approaches to educating language-minority students--transitional bilingual education and a new approach, bilingual immersion. Students achievement on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills was traced from grades four through seven, and results indicated significant effects favoring bilingual immersion in language…

A collaborative research/school improvement project between a university, Alaskan village, and school district caused conflicts about power and ideology. The article chronicles project planning meetings, noting that the school district eventually instituted Yup'ik as a language of instruction. (SM)

Argues, on the basis of research carried out in Canada and Belgium, that not only does the formal learning of the ancestral language in school enhance the overall cognitive abilities of immigrant children but also constitutes the optimal means by which such children can gain literacy in the dominant language. (37 references) (MDM)