This book fills a gap in the literature of the politics of bilingual education in the United States: the role of the legislative branch of the national government in the passage of the 1968 Bilingual Education Act and its aftermath. The issues examined in this book include the type of environment in which the bilingual education debate emerged, the positions of the competing factions that lobbied Congress, the roles played by the legislative branch, and the end result.

Considers S. 428, to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide assistance to local education agencies in establishing bilingual education programs. May 26 hearing was held in Corpus Christi, Tex.; May 29 hearing was held in Edinburgh, Tex.; and May 31 hearing was held in San Antonio, Tex.; pt. 2: Continuation of hearings on S. 428. June 24 hearing was held in Los Angeles; July 21 hearing was held in New York City.

This Congressional hearing on the Bilingual Education Act examines current law and changes necessary to ensure that it provides limited English speaking students with the best possible educational opportunities. After opening statements by Chairman Michael Castle and Representative Carlos Romero-Barcelo, both of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, U.S. House of Representatives, there are four statements by the following individuals: Joseph Farley, elementary school principal, California; Martha Bujanda, former student, Texas; Sylvia Hatton, executive director, Region I Education Service Center, Texas; Don Soifer, executive vice president, Lexington Institute, Virginia; and Hector Ayala, teacher and director of English for the Children, Arizona. The six appendixes present opening statements and written statements. (SM)