Is Pluto a planet? No. Although various people have strong feelings about implications in education and elsewhere--in both directions.
Languages and dialects can with respect to policies like bilingual education. If it's just a dialect, then you may argue there's no need to treat native-speakers differently. If there's a genuinely different language then you may or may not decide that bilingual education is necessary but it tends to be a different discussion than in the first case.
Also language preservation - and there's a direct analogy to preservation of species. When we consider something a separate species, there's that much more impetus to preserve it from extinction, for the sake of maintaining diversity. Similarly, when we consider something a distinct language, there's similar impetus to preserve it. Dialects (usually) aren't extended the same deference, and are left to live and die on their own.
Languages and dialects can with respect to policies like bilingual education. If it's just a dialect, then you may argue there's no need to treat native-speakers differently. If there's a genuinely different language then you may or may not decide that bilingual education is necessary but it tends to be a different discussion than in the first case.