Why Bilingual Education Policy Is Needed 333 Why Bilingual Education Policy Is Needed: A Philosophical Response to the Critics

What role does bilingual education policy have in the educational opportunity structure for heritage language (HL) students? In what ways might bilingual education enhance students ’ self-determination? In this article, I shall argue that the various criticisms against bilingual education policy are myopic and focused on nostalgic notions of Americanization and assimilation, which often cost heritage language students a secure sense of cultural identity, an expansive social context of choice, and consequently, their self-determination. When students have a secure sense of authenticity in their cultural identity, and a favorable social context within which to make important life choices, they then have the best chance of become self-determining. Thus, I examine how bilingual education policy should be justified based on the principle of self-determination. Depending on the context of choice in which given opportunities exist, exercising them can exact markedly higher “opportunity costs ” for certain individuals than for others. For they can come at the expense of one’s personal identity and continued participation in one’s cultura