The Lau v. Nichols decision in 1974 led to which federal act requiring schools to take action to overcome language barriers?

• A. Equal Educational Opportunities Act
• B. Civil Rights Act
• C. Americans with Disabilities Act
• D. No Child Left Behind Act

Answer: (A)

This item tests how Lau v. Nichols led to a federal action that ensures language access in schools. The Supreme Court's decision highlighted that students with limited English proficiency were not receiving equal educational opportunities if schools provided no language support. In response, Congress enacted the Equal Educational Opportunities Act in 1974, which requires school districts to take appropriate action to overcome language barriers that impede equal access to education. This includes providing language instruction programs and services for English Language Learners so all students can participate in and benefit from the same educational opportunities as their peers. While other laws address civil rights or accessibility more broadly, this act specifically answers the language-barrier issue raised by Lau v. Nichols.