English-As-A-Second Language Bilingual Component. Title I Fund, Fund Number 58-5: 1971-1972 Evaluation.

The Bilingual Component of English-As-A-Second Language Project, funded under Title I of the 1965 Elementary Secondary Education Act, represents local educational pilot efforts to demonstrate the utilization of the Spanish language and culture as a leverage for adjustment and achievement, rather than as a barrier, in the process of acclimation to a different culture. The goal of the Bilingual Program is to enable the natural bilingual children to grow up speaking both good Spanish and good English and to develop positive attitudes toward bilingualism and biculturalism. The project served a total of approximately 35 primary school age children. Average daily membership was estimated at 32 children. These children represented six public and one parochial schools. Based on questionnaire responses, interviews, and periodic-on-site observations, the evaluation report attempts to respond to the following questions: To what degree were the process objectives implemented? What were the opinions of school personnel and program staff relative to the project? Were there differences in basic reading and math skills between bilingual participants and comparable control groups? (Author/JM)