Supreme Court of the United States
Lau v. Nichols
January 21, 1974414 U.S. 563
Summary
The Court reversed the Ninth Circuit, holding that the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare's regulations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act requiring school districts to take affirmative steps to remedy language deficiencies are within the authority of § 601 and therefore enforceable. The San Francisco Unified School District’s failure to provide adequate English instruction to non‑English‑speaking Chinese students violates Title VI, and the case is remanded for appropriate relief. Two concurring opinions note the decision’s limited scope to the substantial number of affected students.