Culture, Legalities, & Advocacy

Acculturation

Adapting to and adopting elements of a new culture while still maintaining one's original cultural identity.

Assimilation

Giving up one's original cultural identity completely to merge into the dominant culture.

Culture Shock

The feeling of disorientation, anxiety, or distress experienced by someone adjusting to an entirely new cultural environment.

Ethnocentrism

Judging another culture solely by the values, standards, and customs of one's own culture, often viewing one's own culture as superior.

Stereotype Threat

A situational predicament where individuals are at risk of conforming to negative stereotypes about their social or cultural group, which can negatively impact performance.

Lau v. Nichols (1974)

Determined that standard, un-supplemented English instruction for non-English speaking students violates the Civil Rights Act. Schools must provide specialized assistance.

Castañeda v. Pickard (1981)

Established the three-part compliance test for ELL programs: must be based on sound educational theory, implemented with sufficient resources/staff, and evaluated for effectiveness.

Plyler v. Doe (1982)

Struck down state laws denying public funding for the education of undocumented children, ensuring equal access to K-12 public education regardless of legal status.