What was the outcome of the Lau v. Nichols (1974) Supreme Court case regarding students not proficient in English?

The outcome of Lau v. Nichols (1974) established that schools have an obligation to provide English language instruction to students who are not proficient in English. This ruling stemmed from the case, which involved Chinese-speaking students in San Francisco who were not receiving adequate assistance to help them learn English and succeed academically. The Supreme Court determined that failing to provide such instruction amounted to discrimination under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as the lack of language support inhibited these students' ability to engage fully in their education.

The court's decision emphasized the responsibility of educational institutions to ensure all students, including English Language Learners (ELLs), have equal access to educational opportunities. This outcome shaped future policies and practices related to language instruction in schools, reaffirming that language barriers should not impede a student's right to equal educational opportunities.