Book excerpt: This book traces a history of bilingual education in the US, unveiling the pervasive role of politics and its influence on integrity of policy implementation. It introduces readers to once nationwide, systemic supports for diverse bilingual educational programs and situates particular instances and phases of its expansion and decline within related sociopolitical backdrops. The book includes overlooked details about key leaders and developments that affected programs under the Bilingual Education Act. It delves deeply into a past infrastructure: what it entailed, how it worked, and who was involved. This volume is essential reading for researchers, students, administrators, education leaders, bilingual advocates and related stakeholders invested in understanding the history of language education in the US for future planning, expansion, and enhancement of bilingual educational programs and promotion of equity and access in schooling.