Bilingual Education Act: Background and Reauthorization Issues. CRS Report for Congress.

Overview & Synopsis

The Bilingual Education Act (BEA) title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), is the federal program intended to help children who are limited English proficient (LEP) learn English. BEA activities focus on transitional bilingual education; developmental bilingual education; special alternative instruction (such as English as Second Language and immersion); academic excellence projects; family English literacy projects; and bilingual preschool, special education, and gifted and talented projects. The BEA supports grants to states for data collection, evaluation assistance centers, studies, and a national clearinghouse. The BEA also funds personnel training in the area of bilingual education, the operation of resource centers, and finances a bilingual education fellowship program. Six potential issues that Congress may consider in the reauthorization of the BEA are discussed in this report and include limitations on funding for special alternative instruction projects, federal guidance to states on a standard definition of LEP, a research agenda for the 1990s, and the low completion rate of BEA fellowship recipients. (JP)