A Policy History and Analysis of the Emergency Immigrant Education Act of 1984

• In Event: Agenda Setting and Policy Formulation: Applications of Kingdon’s Multiple Streams to Education Policy Making

Abstract

This study provides an analysis of the political context in which the Emergency Immigrant Education Act of 1984 (EIEA) was developed, passed, and amended through its most recent reauthorization. EIEA is the only federal legislation that specifically assists new immigrant students. We employ historical document and content analysis to describe and explain how the language of the law developed and changed to reflect the political culture and values of the dominant political party. We confirm the broad applicability of Kingdon’s (2011) model for understanding federal education policy adoption, particularly as augmented by Manna’s (2006) concept of “borrowing strength.” This case is consistent with the observation that federal education policy largely serves a social redistribution function to address societal inequities.

Authors

• J. Kathleen Repique, University of Redlands

• Rebeccah Warren-Marlatt, Crafton Hills College

• Ross E. Mitchell, University of Redlands