NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

Which act ensured that no child could be denied an education due to lack of language support?

1. Title IX

2. Equal Opportunities Education Act

3. Lau v. Nicholes Act

4. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

The correct answer is: Equal Opportunities Education Act

The correct response is related to the Lau v. Nichols case, which directly addresses the issue of language support in education. This landmark case, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1974, established that schools must provide appropriate language assistance to students who are not proficient in English to ensure they have equal access to educational opportunities. This ruling emphasized that failing to provide language support constitutes a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The other options, while significant in their own rights, do not specifically target language support in education. Title IX focuses on gender equality in education, the Equal Opportunities Education Act pertains to broader equality and anti-discrimination measures without specifically focusing on language barriers, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is dedicated to ensuring that students with disabilities receive free appropriate public education tailored to their individual needs, which does not address language support for non-native speakers. Thus, Lau v. Nicholes is the pivotal act ensuring that language barriers do not impede a child's right to education.