Publication Date
Spring 2025
College
College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Department
Social Work, Department of
Student Level
Undergraduate
SPARK Category
Scholarship
Faculty Advisor
Jennifer Crowell- Thompson
SPARK Session
Social Justice & the 114th TN General Assembly: Policy Impact Presentations I and II ( 8-10:15).
Presentation Type
Article
Summary
The 1974 Supreme Court case Lau v. Nichols ruled that schools are required to provide English Language Learning services, as failing to do so deprives English-learning students of a meaningful opportunity to participate in education and denies them access to an equitable education (Lau v. Nichols). Not providing English Language Learning support is in opposition to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Education Opportunities Act of 1974. In addition, the Every Student Succeeds Act requires all students with no exceptions to participate in school accountability assessments, which in Tennessee is the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) (Sugarman & Villegas, 2020). Overall, policy states that schools are required to support English Language Learners so that they can exercise their right to an equitable education; however, when it comes to testing, there is limited support for students who are learning English, which can have a significant impact on a student’s educational journey. There is a growing population of English Language Learners in the state of Tennessee, showing an increasing need for adequate support. Currently in the Tennessee General Assembly, HB0030 sponsored by John Ray Clemmons and its companion bill SB1213 sponsored by Senator Charlane Oliver, would empower students who are English Language Learners to receive the support for testing assessment they deserve. Empowering all students is a key value of social work, particularly in alignment with our values of service and social justice. It is imperative that students receive more than just the bare minimum to achieve academic success, as this success significantly impacts their lives beyond K-12 education. We recommend supporting this bill and adding more support for English Language Learners in the education system.
Recommended Citation
De La Cruz Salinas, Maria K. and Welling, Ann Katherine, "Policy Analysis of HB0030: Empowering English Language Learners" (2025). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 153.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/153
Included in
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education Commons, Curriculum and Instruction Commons
