FOREIGN-LANGUAGE POLICY IN UNITED-STATES SECONDARY-SCHOOLS - WHO DECIDES

The United States has no official foreign language policy. In the abse nce of such a policy, there is a diverse array of decision makers who influence policies related to who takes a foreign language and when, a nd who determines which languages are taught and how. The decision mak ers include state legislative bodies, state boards of education, local boards of education, teachers, parents, and even students themselves. Frequently, the policymaking role of these groups is recognized and a cknowledged; at other times, these groups subtly shape decisions in wa ys that may not be immediately apparent. Further, their views and obje ctives may not always be consistent with one another, leading policy i n differing, if not diametrically opposed, directions. In an era that aims toward the restructuring of education and, more specifically, tow ard instructional improvements in all disciplines, understanding the e xplicit and implicit roles played by these unofficial policymakers wil l be important.