Home > Resources

U.S. vs. Texas

In 1970, the federal government sought to desegregate two contiguous school districts, one predominantly White (Del Rio ISD) and the other with majority Latino students (San Felipe ISD). "A judge issued a court order, known as Civil Action 5281, which prohibited school district transfers in Texas that exacerbated racial or ethnic segregation" (Cárdenas, 1995). The district judge ordered that both districts consolidate and found that "English language and cultural barriers precluded the successful integration of Latino students and addressing the language limitations of both Anglo and Latino students was therefore an appropriate desegregation device" (Cárdenas, 1995). As a result, he ordered that all students in the newly consolidated district receive bilingual education.

Outcome - In 1971, the court order established a precedent for desegregation and also for addressing the needs of a unique ethnic group in the educational system. The principle of adaptability placed the onus for adaptation on the educational system rather than on the students. "This principle of school adaptability became the key issue in the Lau vs. Nichols case in California." (Cárdenas, 1995).

Civil Rights.org. (Washington, D.C.: Leadership Conference on Civil Rights/Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund, 2002). http://www.civilrights.org/library/civilrights101/desegregation.html