Document: 414 U.S. 563 94 S.Ct. 786 39 L.Ed.2d 1 Kinney Kinmon LAU, a minor by and through Mrs. Kam Wai Lau, his guardian ad litem, et al., Petitioners,v.Alan H. NICHOLS al. No. 72—6520. Argued Dec. 10, 1973. Decided Jan. 21, 1974. Syllabus The failure of the San Francisco school system to provide English language instruction approximately 1,800 students Chinese ancestry who do not speak English, or them with other adequate instructional procedures, denies meaningful opportunity participate in public educational program thus violates § 601 Civil Rights Act 1964, which bans discrimination based 'on ground race, color, national origin,' 'any activity receiving Federal financial assistance,' implementing regulations Department Health, Education, Welfare. Pp. 565—569. 483 F.2d 791, reversed remanded. Edward Steinman, Santa Clara, Cal., for petitioners; Kenneth Hecht David C. Moon, Francisco, on briefs. 2 Thomas M. O'Connor, respondents; George E. Frueger Burk Delventhal, brief. 3 J. Stanley Pottinger, Asst. Atty. Gen., United States, as amicus curiae, special leave Court; Solicitor Robert Bork, Deputy Lawrence G. Wallace, Mark L. Evans Brian K. Landsberg, Washington, D.C., 4 Stephen Pollak, Ralph Moore, Jr., Rubin, Peter T. Galiano, Burlingame, Nat. Ed. Assn. others; W. Reece Bader James R. Madison, Lawyers' Committee Urban Affairs; Harold Flannery, Center Law Ed., Harvard University; Herbert Teitelbaum, New York City, Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund, Inc; Mario Obledo, Sanford Rosen, Berkeley, Michael Mendelson, Alan Exelrod, Mexican American Educational Fund Samuel Rabinove, Joseph B. Robison, Arnold Forster, Elliot Rothenberg, Jewish F. Raymond Marks, Childhood Government Project; Martin Glick, Efrain Tostado Consolidated Benevolent others, curiae. 5 Mr. Justice DOUGLAS delivered opinion Court. 6 California, was integrated 1971 result federal court decree, 339 F.Supp. 1315. See Lee v. Johnson, 404 1215, 92 14, 30 19. District Court found that there are 2,856 English. Of those have deficiency, about 1,000 given supplemental courses language.1 About 1,800, however, receive instruction. 7 This class suit brought non-English-speaking against officials responsible operation Unified School seeks relief unequal opportunities, alleged violate, inter alia, Fourteenth Amendment. No specific remedy is urged upon us. Teaching one choice. Giving instructions this group another. There may be others. Petitioners ask only Board Education directed apply its expertise problem rectify situation. 8 denied relief. Appeals affirmed, holding no violation Equal Protection Clause Amendment 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d, excludes from participation assistance, recipients aid discriminate racial groups, 791. One judge dissented. A hearing en banc denied, two judges dissenting. Id., at 805. 9 We granted petition certiorari because importance question presented, 412 938, 93 2786, 37 397. 10 reasoned '(e)very student brings starting line career different advantages disadvantages caused part social, economic cultural background, created continued completely apart any contribution system,' F.2d, 797. Yet our view case so easily decided. California 71 Code states 'English shall basic all schools.' That section permits district determine 'when under what circumstances bilingually.' also 'the policy state' insure mastery pupils And bilingual authorized 'to extent it does interfere systematic, sequential, regular language.' Moreover, 8573 provides pupil diploma graduation grade 12 has met standards proficiency 'English,' well prescribed subjects. 12101 (Supp. 1973) children between ages six 16 years (with exceptions material here) 'subject compulsory full-time education.' 11 Under these state-imposed equality treatment merely providing same facilities, textbooks, teachers, curriculum; understand effectively foreclosed education. Basic skills very core schools teach. Imposition requirement that, before child can program, he must already acquired make mockery know certain find their classroom experiences wholly incomprehensible way meaningful. 13 reach argument been advanced but rely solely reverse Appeals. 14 assistance.' involved litigation receives large amounts assistance. Welfare (HEW), authority promulgate prohibiting federally assisted systems, 2000d—1, 1968 issued guideline '(s)chool systems assuring particular origin obtain education generally obtained system.' 33 Fed.Reg. 4955. In 1970 HEW made guidelines more specific, requiring districts were funded deficiency order open' had 'linguistic deficiencies,' 35 11595. 15 By 602 issue rules, regulations, orders2 sure jurisdiction conduct financed projects consistently 601. HEW's 45 CFR 80.3(b)(1), specify '(ii) Provide service, aid, benefit an individual different, provided manner, others program; 17 '(iv) Restrict enjoyment advantage privilege enjoyed program.' 18 Discrimination among account race prohibited includes 'discrimination . availability use academic facilities grantee recipient.' 80.5(b). 19 barred effect even though purposeful design present: recipient 'may utilize criteria methods administration subjecting individuals discrimination' defeating substantially impairing accomplishment objectives respect origin.' 80.3(b)(2). 20 It seems obvious Chinese-speaking minority fewer benefits than English-speaking majority respondents' program—all earmarks banned regulations.3 clarifying guidelines, 11595, include following: 21 'Where inability origin-minority effective offered district, take affirmative steps open students.' 22 'Any ability grouping tracking employed deal skill needs designed meet such soon possible operate deadend permanent track.' 23 Respondent contractually agreed 'comply title VI 1964 requirements imposed pursuant Regulation' (45 pt. 80) 'issued .' immediately 'take measures necessary effectuate agreement.' power fix terms money allotments States disbursed. Oklahoma Service Commission, 330 127, 142—143, 67 544, 552—554, 91 L.Ed. 794. Whatever limits power, Steward Machine Co. Davis, 301 548, 590, 57 883, 892, 81 1279 seq., they reached here. Senator Humphrey, during floor debates said:4 24 'Simple justice requires funds, taxpayers races contribute, spent fashion encourages, entrenches, subsidizes, results discrimination.' 25 accordingly judgment remand fashioning appropriate 26 Reversed 27 WHITE concurs result. 28 STEWART, whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE BLACKMUN join, concurring 29 uncontested 2,800 schoolchildren attend speak, understand, read, write language, some respondent authorities taken significant deficiency. petitioners contend, respondents affirmatively intentionally contributed inadequacy, failed act face changing social linguistic patterns. Because laissez-faire attitude administrators, entirely clear standing alone, would render illegal expenditure funds schools. For '(n)o person shall, origin, excluded in, of, subjected On hand, interpretive published Office 1970, clearly indicate efforts give training required Tit. condition receipt schools: 31 students.'1 32 critical is, therefore, whether promulgated go beyond 601.2 Last Term, Mourning Family Publications Service, Inc., 411 356, 369, 1652, 1661, 36 318, we held validity regulation general authorization provision VI3 'will sustained long 'reasonably related purposes enabling legislation.' Thorpe Housing Authority City Durham, 393 268, 280—281, 89 518, 525, 474 (1969).' I think here fairly test. assessing remedial legislation departmental 'consistent administrative construction' 'entitled great weight.' Trafficante Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., 409 205, 210, 364, 367, 34 415; Griggs duke Power 401 424, 433—434, 849, 854—855, 158; Udall Tallman, 380 1, 85 792, 616. reasonably interpreted require attention linguistically deprived children. reasons concur BLACKMUN, joins, join STEWART'S I, too, Against possibility Court's too broadly, stress fact concerned number 1,800. substantial being schooling cannot classroom. guess why exposure preschool years. Earlier generations ethnic groups overcome barrier earnest parental endeavor hard pushed out family community nest into realities broader experience. wish plain when, another case, few youngsters, just single speaks German Polish Spanish regard today's decision, separate concurrence, conclusive statute me, numbers heart my concurrence understood accordingly. report adopted Human Commission submitted after oral shows April 1973, 3,457 spoke little document further showed 2,136 enrolled classes, least 429 enrollees included balance. Thus, 1,707 needing it. Section provides: 'Each department agency empowered extend assistance activity, grant, loan, contract insurance guaranty, provisions 2000d issuing orders applicability consistent achievement authorizing connection action taken. 2000d—1. see Report Bilingual Public Schools, Aug. 9, 110 Cong.Rec. 6543 (Sen. quoting President Kennedy's message Congress, June 19, 1963). These clarification Department's position stated implement VI, 80. administered 'Provide (or) 'Restrict 80.3(b)(1)(ii), (iv). contest sue beneficiaries funding District. 602, pertinent part: curiae asserts brief, appear concede, 602.

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