Lau v. Nichols revisited: unveiling dual language program disparities in California for Asian students and marginalized communities

Abstract California has witnessed substantial growth in multilingual programs over the past half-century since the foundational Lau v. Nichols decision, with one in seven public schools statewide offering such programs for students. Likewise, the rapid rise in California’s Asian population, as well as the increase in both overall racial diversity and socioeconomic disparities across the state, have influenced dual language bilingual education discussions. Commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Lau decision, this study examines the impact of school and community characteristics on the availability of dual language programs in California public schools, with particular focus on the state’s Asian student population. Employing logistic regression analysis to delve into the American Community Survey and California Department of Education datasets, the study specifically examines how student demographics and school characteristics (e.g., grade level, charter, and magnet status), as well as community features (e.g., the share of foreign-born populations and median household income), are associated with the offering of dual language programs in California schools. Despite the considerable growth of the state’s Asian American population, the study could not find a meaningful connection between Asian representation and the provision of dual language programs. In addition, the results reveal severe equity concerns regarding low-income students’ access to dual language programs. Charter schools also tend to underutilize dual language programs compared to their non-charter counterparts. Based on the study’s findings, we raise concerns regarding why the presence of Asian students cannot be better leveraged as a driving force for implementing dual language programs in California’s public schools and highlight the persistent disparities faced by economically disadvantaged students.