The Miseducation of English Learners

The Miseducation of English Learners examines the initial policy impact of Structured EnglishImmersion (SEI) an English-only program mandated for English Learners (ELs) in CaliforniaArizona and Massachusetts in the United States. The book features analyses of: the legal contextand parameters of SEI; research history on SEI; SEI language policy and policy implementationaccording to situated context; and the educational priorities and legal rights of ELs. The bookexamines the history of SEI in the educational research literature and as it has been interpreted inthe context of the legal requirement for schools to take appropriate action to meet the needs ofELs following the historic Lau v. Nichols (1974) court decision. The Miseducation of EnglishLearners also presents and considers the implementation of SEI in comparative contexts from variousperspectives including teacher education the classroom and legal. In several of the chaptersSEI implementation is examined in concert with other factors that have effected the teaching andprogress of ELs such as Senate Bill 2042 (2001) that overhauled the teacher education process in California and the federal No ChildLeft Behind legislation (signed into law on January 8 2002). Moreover the book provides implications and recommendations forteaching research advocacy and policy change.The Miseducation of English Learners addresses and invites the readers to consider the following key questions:• How appropriate is the mandated SEI program for ELs both in substance and in the one-year duration as specifiedin the three voter-initiated propositions (Proposition 227 Proposition 203 and Question 2)?• What issues themes and patterns can be noted in the implementation of SEI in California Arizona and Massachusetts?• Why might the student outcomes not show the desired results in measures such as achievement test scores or dropout rates?• What necessary changes are called for in order to enhance (or in some cases supplant) the SEI programs and servicesin place for ELs?• Are ELs parents and other stakeholders able to thoughtfully select desired andoptimal instructional programs and participate meaningfully in the educationalprocess of language minority students under the SEI mandates?