Program labels can be misleading. It's difficult to say what's working when the experts themselves aren't sure of the best ways to assess LEP students. That makes it extremely difficult to accurately compare efforts to educate language-minority students in different states, school districts, individual schools, or even classrooms within schools. Most bilingual programs today are considered transitional, with the goal of preparing students to enter mainstream English classrooms as soon as possible. In such programs, children study English in classes specially designed for second-language learners and receive a portion of their instruction in their native languages to keep up in academic subjects.
Instruction varies tremendously.
Though some educators are fully certified in bilingual education, there are far too few of them to meet the growing national demand. Often, students are taught by aides or non-certified educators. Some teachers are truly bilingual, some don't speak English well, and some don't speak the students' language well or at all. The rules on the subject vary widely. Some states, such as Massachusetts, generally require schools to use transitional bilingual education, at least in name.