Law Commons^™

The Gap Between Rights And Reality: The Intersection Of Language, Disability, And Educational Opportunity, Claire Raj

Faculty Publications

English Language Learners (ELLs) are the fastest growing group in America’s schools. The debate over how to best serve them is largely dominated by fights over English-only versus bilingual instruction. This controversy is once again taking center stage, as states like California and Massachusetts reassess their language programs after a decade of English-only laws on the books. But once again, lost in the battle over language pedagogy is the fact that ELLs face educational challenges beyond language. Like any other student population, the ELL cohort includes students with disabilities who need special education services. In theory, two different statutes protect …