NABE was formally established during the Fourth Annual International Bilingual Bicultural Education Conference held in May 1975 at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago, Illinois.
A 1981 report by Keith Baker and Adriana de Kanter, commissioned by the U.S. federal government, questioned the effectiveness of transitional bilingual programs and recommended alternative approaches.
NABE and its supporters criticized the report for methodological flaws and biases, arguing that it failed to account for the broader benefits of bilingual education.
[1] The BRJ continued to serve as a platform for addressing issues such as language acquisition, instructional strategies, and the impact of legislation on bilingual programs.
These partnerships helped amplify NABE’s voice in national policy discussions and ensured a unified approach to defending bilingual education programs.
[2] NABE continues to advocate for policies that support bilingual education, emphasizing the importance of linguistic and cultural diversity in U.S. schools.