Lau v. Nichols is a landmark Supreme Court case about educational opportunities for which group?

• A. Lau v. Nichols
• B. Brown v. Board
• C. Plessy v. Ferguson
• D. Truax v. Corrigan

Answer: (A)

This item centers on how law ensures equal educational opportunities for students who do not speak English. Lau v. Nichols (1974) held that when students are unable to participate in classes because they don’t understand English, schools must provide language services and appropriate support so they can access the same curriculum. The ruling ties language access to the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act, making it illegal to deny these students an equal chance at education simply due to language barriers. It emerged from a case about Chinese American students in San Francisco who spoke little or no English, and it spurred the creation of English language learner programs and bilingual education nationwide. The other cases listed address different civil rights issues—such as racial segregation and naturalization—not language access in schooling—so Lau v. Nichols is the best fit for the question.