What was the outcome of Lau v. Nichols in 1974?

The outcome of Lau v. Nichols in 1974 was significant in shaping educational policy for non-English speaking students. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the San Francisco school system's failure to provide adequate language assistance to Chinese-speaking students constituted a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Court determined that these students were not receiving equal educational opportunities because they could not understand the English instruction being provided.

This ruling mandated that schools have an obligation to take proactive measures to ensure that non-English speaking students can access their education effectively. Specifically, this included providing programs that would help such students overcome language barriers, thereby affirming their civil rights in the educational context. The decision established a clear precedent that schools must actively support students who are not proficient in English, emphasizing the importance of equal access to education for all students, regardless of their language background.