The United States of America is often referred to as a nation of immigrants; hence, it is difficult to separate immigrant education from mainstream American education. However, immigrant education is generally viewed as being the education of those whose native language is other than English and whose culture is other than North American. Thus, the education of immigrant children has always revolved around language education. This entry looks at how immigrant education evolved over the years and briefly touches on current issues.

Historical Timeline

As it became evident that the predominant language of the United States would be English, efforts began to coordinate educational efforts among the colonies. The noted educational historian Lawrence A. Cremin records an early instance of attempts at immigrant (English-language-based) education.

Early Years

A system ...

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