Bilingualism and Testing: A Special Case of Bias

by Guadalupe Valdés, Richard A. Figueroa

This book is directly concerned with the reasons underlying bilingual children's poor performance on standardized tests. It is the authors' contention that without an understanding of the nature of bilingualism itself, the problems encountered by bilingual individuals on such tests will continue. The volume's primary purpose is to contribute to the development of a research, knowledge, and theoretical base which can support the testing of bilingual individuals. By reviewing and discussing both the nature of bilingualism and the nature of standardized testing and by presenting a detailed agenda of the questions that must be answered the authors hope to influence existing and future policies which govern the use of tests and test results. This area is of increasing importance to American education and the policy implications are evident.

266 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994