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1 Swati Dontamsetti -- 339 2026-01-05 07:58:13 |
2 Format Correct Abigail Zou Meta information modification 339 2026-01-05 08:00:12 |

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Dontamsetti, S.; Castillo-Lavergne, C.M.; Campbell, V.A. Bilingual Education in the U.S.. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/59399 (accessed on 27 March 2026).
Dontamsetti S, Castillo-Lavergne CM, Campbell VA. Bilingual Education in the U.S.. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/59399. Accessed March 27, 2026.
Dontamsetti, Swati, Claudia M. Castillo-Lavergne, Vandeen A. Campbell. "Bilingual Education in the U.S." Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/59399 (accessed March 27, 2026).
Dontamsetti, S., Castillo-Lavergne, C.M., & Campbell, V.A. (2026, January 05). Bilingual Education in the U.S.. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/59399
Dontamsetti, Swati, et al. "Bilingual Education in the U.S.." Encyclopedia. Web. 05 January, 2026.
Bilingual Education in the U.S.
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This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/encyclopedia6010004

Bilingual education in the United States encompasses programs that use both English and students’ home languages to promote learning. It has been shaped by changing political priorities, policies, and debates over assimilation versus linguistic diversity. This entry reviews the history of bilingual education in the United States and how public opinion and political attitudes have shifted over time. It traces how policymakers and practitioners have viewed English language acquisition as either a tool of assimilation or as a resource for learning, and how support has moved from English-only immersion to dual language education programs. The discussion highlights how current assessment practices, focused on English-only standardized testing, have not kept pace with changing views of bilingual education. The entry concludes by identifying gaps in research and urging states to evaluate how comprehensively they serve their bilingual student population through their education policies and programs.

bilingual education emergent bilinguals language education policy policy evolution dual language education dual language bilingual education educational assessment
Bilingual education in the United States has long occupied contested terrain, shaped by shifting political ideologies, landmark court decisions, and competing views of linguistic diversity. While some policies have framed students’ home languages as obstacles to overcome, others have recognized their value as resources for learning and identity. This tension has produced a cyclical history of expansion and retrenchment in bilingual programming, reflecting broader debates about equity, assimilation, and national identity.
This entry examines the evolution and effectiveness of bilingual education in the United States, focusing on three interrelated lines of inquiry: how evolving terminology reflects underlying ideologies, how policies have supported or undermined bilingualism over time, and what research reveals about the benefits of bilingual approaches. In doing so, this entry highlights research debates about the enduring value of home language instruction, the promise of dual language education, and the limitations of current assessment and accountability systems. The entry concludes by identifying gaps in implementation and research, underscoring the need for sustained investment in programs that advance equity by treating linguistic diversity as a foundational educational asset.
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Subjects: Language & Linguistics
Contributors MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register : Swati Dontamsetti , Claudia M. Castillo-Lavergne , Vandeen A. Campbell
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Revisions: 2 times (View History)
Update Date: 05 Jan 2026
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