The lack of supplemental language instruction in public school for students with limited English proficiency violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Decided January 21, 1974 (argued December 10, 1973). Opinion of the Court: William O. Douglas → go there Topic: Discrimination based on race and ethnicity. Lau v. Nichols, 414 U.S. 563 (1974), was a landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court unanimously decided that the lack of supplemental language instruction in public school for students with limited English proficiency violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The court held that since non-English speakers were denied a meaningful education, the disparate impact caused by the school policy violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the case was remanded to the District Court "for the fashioning of appropriate relief". Wiki link