The historical treatments of those who are now being protected by the Aspira Consent Decree have had an increase in educational opportunities in the U.S public schools system. The Aspira Consent Decree has made it possible for New York City’s non-English speaking Puerto Rican and Latino students to have a bilingual education. The law mandated for the city’s public schools to provide bilingual education instruction for Puerto Rican Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and English Language Learners (ELL). History has shown that over time the percentage of non-English speakers has more than doubled in the U.S. Due to this increase, the number of LEP and ELL school age children has also had a significant increase. In 2000-2001 this increase reached more than 3.9 million children. This law has helped improve the treatment of LEP children in the public school system. Now that bilingual instruction is provided it has helped to improve the skills of both English and ELL students by broadening their social and language skills. Before the Aspira Consent Decree was put into effect in New York City Puerto Rican and Latino students were not given an equal opportunity at their education. Now this law has affected all of the Public Schools of New York. This case has also opened doors to help other families win trials against their school systems due to unfair treatment of their bilingual children. Though this process has not been easy, it has challenged a constant debate over its goals and effectiveness. The educational experience for the many ELL students is constantly improving and giving these students a more fair opportunity at an education.
Reyes, Luis. "The Aspira Consent Decree: A Thirtieth-Anniversary Retrospective of Bilingual Education in New York City ." Harvard Educational Review. 76.3 (2006): 369-402. Print.
