What did the Lau v. Nichols decision emphasize about educational access?

The Lau v. Nichols decision emphasized the necessity for students to receive language support in educational settings. This landmark case involved Chinese-speaking students in San Francisco who argued that they were not receiving adequate instruction because they did not speak English fluently. The Supreme Court ruled that a school’s failure to provide language support constituted discrimination and violated the Civil Rights Act. Therefore, schools are required to provide appropriate educational services to ensure that non-English-speaking students can access the same educational opportunities as their English-speaking peers. This ruling highlights the importance of language support in fostering equitable educational access and ensuring that all students can thrive academically, regardless of their language background.