Revitalization and current status In 1968, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Bilingual Education Act, which provided funds for educating young students who are not native English speakers. The Act had mainly been intended for Spanish-speaking children—particularly Mexican Americans—but it applied to all recognized linguistic minorities. Many Native American tribes seized the chance to establish their own bilingual education programs. However, qualified teachers who were fluent in Native languages were scarce, and these programs were largely unsuccessful.
reVItAlizAtion and current STAtus in 1968, u.s. presiDent LynDon b. joHnson sigNEd The biLinguAL eDucAtion acT, WhiCH ProvIDed fUnds FoR edUCATinG yOunG StUdents who are not naTive engLish SPEAkers. THE aCt HAd MAinly bEEn intEnDEd for sPaNIsh-SPeaking cHILDrEN—particularly MExIcan AmerICaNs—but iT applied To aLL recOgNizED liNGuistIc mINOrities. mAny native amErican tRIbeS seiZed tHE chance to eStAblISh TheiR own bilingUAL educatioN proGraMS. howevER, QuALified tEAcheRs who weRE FlUEnT IN NaTIvE LanGuagES were scArce, and tHeSE ProgrAMS WeRE largelY UnsUccESsFuL.