Policy Brief: Native-Language Education: Addressing the Interests of Special Populations within U.S. Federal Policy

Author(s): Jane Best and Allison Dunlap

Contact: Jane Best

Audience(s): Policymakers

Product Description:

This brief provides an overview of three federal laws that address native-language education and illustrates how these federal laws produce different results when coupled with state laws and other regional circumstances. For the purposes of this brief, native-language education refers to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians and uses Puerto Rico as a point of comparison.

Key Ideas:

This policy brief:

• Discusses which federal laws make provisions for native-language education
• Illustrates how local laws and special circumstances affect the type of language instruction used in different areas
• Provides questions for policymakers as they consider native-language education in their region

APA Citation:

Best, J., & Dunlap, A. (2012). Native-language education: Addressing the interests of special populations within U.S. federal policy (Policy brief). Denver, CO: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning.