Effects of U.S. English Only Language Instruction on Elementary Latino Students

Due to the influx of immigrants into the United States, the U.S. has been a polyglot nation containing a diverse array of languages among its student population. Americans believe that English is part of the American culture. Consequently, the English Only movement was an effort to amend English as an official language to the U.S. constitution. Latinos have been the target group because Spanish has been seen as a threat to the English language. In schools, after the Lau vs. Nichols case in 1974, limited English proficiency students are required instructions in English. In 1998, California passed Proposition 227 that ended bilingual education programs in schools. This proposition mandates that students receive instructions in English only. Students in English Immersion classes, such as Sheltered English Instruction, are now in the mainstream English classes. This senior capstone examines the effects of U.S. English Only movement on elementary Latino students through use of literature review, teacher and principal surveys, and students\u27 surveys