Which type of bilingual education focuses on helping students become proficient in English?

Transitional bilingual programs are specifically designed to support students who are English language learners as they transition into full proficiency in English. These programs provide instruction in both the students’ native language and English, with the goal of gradually shifting to English as the primary language of instruction. This approach allows students to build on their existing language skills while they learn English, ultimately facilitating their transition into mainstream English-speaking classrooms.

This method contrasts with other types of bilingual education. For instance, maintenance bilingual programs aim to maintain and promote fluency in both the native language and English, rather than emphasizing a full transition to English. Language immersion programs immerse students in an English-speaking environment often with little to no support in their native language and are not focused solely on transitioning to English proficiency. Heritage language programs are designed to help students maintain and develop their cultural and linguistic heritage rather than focusing on English proficiency.