Equity or Enrichment? Dual Language Policy From Master Plans to Program Review

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 13
  In Roundtable Session: Criticality in Bilingual Language Policies and Practices in Schools and Society

Abstract

As many educational policymakers and communities both local and statewide move to embrace dual language education for the children they serve, program planners, administrators, teachers, parents and students are challenged to understand the implications of their decisions and program choices for a wide variety of students. This paper will consider the how dual language programs engage in developing and enacting program policy that benefits all students in the linguistically complex environment of dual language education. We will present findings from a qualitative collective case study of eight dual language program master plans as well as from a qualitative ethnographic study of a dual language middle school program review to consider the importance of examining competing purposes and ideologies.

Authors

• Sharon Merritt, Fresno Pacific University

• Charles Merritt, Fresno Pacific University