NMA1 Task 1 ELL Laws and Program Models
Professional Role of the ELL Teacher Western Governors
University
NMA1 Task 1
ELL Laws and Program Models
, Part A1. Federal Laws
Four federal laws that protect the rights of our ELL learners are Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, the Equal Educational Opportunity Act of 1974, the 14th Amendment of the U.S.
Constitution, and the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protects students with disabilities including
language learners. This encompasses students who struggle with anxiety which can often be
found in classroom with EL learners if the affective filter has not been taken into consideration
during lessons and classroom procedures. Students who are unable to learn in a typical classroom
can be provided a 504 plan under this law. Schools are than required to accommodate for this
student. (U.S. Dept. of Labor, 2022)
The fourteenth amendment of the U.S. Constitution is also known as the equal protection law
and prohibits states from denying the person equal rights of the law. This applies to ELL learners
in that it means that all schools are required by law to provide the same and equal access to rights
and not deny the same rights as those of non-English language learners. (History.com, 2009)
The Equal Educational Opportunity Act of 1974 (EEOA) was a law that addressed civil rights
issues in education meaning that states could not barre a student based on gender, race, color,
nationality, and required schools to provide for students who did not speak English. (A&E,
2019).
Much like the EEOA of 1974, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the of
race, color, or national origin but in any program or activity that receives Federal funds or other
Federal financial assistance. If a school is receiving federal funding for ELL learners and
education, then they must abide by this law. (U.S. Dept. of Justice, 2016).
Professional Role of the ELL Teacher Western Governors
University
NMA1 Task 1
ELL Laws and Program Models
, Part A1. Federal Laws
Four federal laws that protect the rights of our ELL learners are Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, the Equal Educational Opportunity Act of 1974, the 14th Amendment of the U.S.
Constitution, and the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protects students with disabilities including
language learners. This encompasses students who struggle with anxiety which can often be
found in classroom with EL learners if the affective filter has not been taken into consideration
during lessons and classroom procedures. Students who are unable to learn in a typical classroom
can be provided a 504 plan under this law. Schools are than required to accommodate for this
student. (U.S. Dept. of Labor, 2022)
The fourteenth amendment of the U.S. Constitution is also known as the equal protection law
and prohibits states from denying the person equal rights of the law. This applies to ELL learners
in that it means that all schools are required by law to provide the same and equal access to rights
and not deny the same rights as those of non-English language learners. (History.com, 2009)
The Equal Educational Opportunity Act of 1974 (EEOA) was a law that addressed civil rights
issues in education meaning that states could not barre a student based on gender, race, color,
nationality, and required schools to provide for students who did not speak English. (A&E,
2019).
Much like the EEOA of 1974, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the of
race, color, or national origin but in any program or activity that receives Federal funds or other
Federal financial assistance. If a school is receiving federal funding for ELL learners and
education, then they must abide by this law. (U.S. Dept. of Justice, 2016).
