Congresswoman Judy Chu Leads Accolades on Seminal Court Case Anniversary

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the landmark January 21, 1974 Supreme Court case Lau v. Nichols, Congresswoman Judy Chu, who represents Pasadena and is the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), led the accolades. The case created the legal basis for bilingual education and language access services, expanding rights for students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

Chu highlighted the significance of the case, stating, “Over fifty years ago, young students of Chinese descent in my home state of California joined together to stand for their right to an equal public education. Their case and the resulting Supreme Court decision in their favor continues to be a significant milestone for educational equity and language access for AANHPI and immigrant communities today.”

Chu further emphasized the need to build upon the legacy of Lau v. Nichols by increasing language access across the entire federal government, ensuring everyone that calls America home can fully participate in public education and all areas of public life.

Other members of CAPAC also commemorated the anniversary. 

First Vice-Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06) expressed pride in carrying on the legacy of Lau v. Nichols in her efforts to expand language access in federal programs. CAPAC Whip Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36) reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to equality and justice for all, inside and outside the classroom. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) emphasized the importance of language access and appropriate resources for English language learners. Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44) reflected on the impact of the decision on federally funded school districts and their responsibility to address language barriers.

The Supreme Court decision has had far-reaching impacts, with courts relying on Lau v. Nichols for several language access cases, increasing opportunities for LEP individuals nationwide. As of 2020, five million public school students were English learners, including over half a million AANHPI students.