What legal case established criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of ELL programs?

The legal case that established criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of English Language Learner (ELL) programs is Lau v. Nichols. This landmark Supreme Court case in 1974 addressed the issue of language discrimination in education. The Court ruled that the lack of bilingual education for Chinese-speaking students in San Francisco resulted in a violation of their rights under the Civil Rights Act. Consequently, the ruling emphasized the need for schools to provide adequate language support to ensure ELL students can participate meaningfully in their education.

This case set a precedent that schools must not only admit students irrespective of their language background but also provide them with the necessary resources and support to succeed academically. The criteria established as a result of the Lau case focused on the requirement for effective educational programs that address the linguistic needs of ELL students, thus enhancing their educational opportunities.