Students are generally dismissed from early-exit bilingual programs by
Group of answer choices
The end of kindergarten
The end of 3rd grade
The end of 2nd grade
The parents’ recommendation
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is typically The end of 3rd grade.
Bilingual education programs, particularly early-exit programs, are designed to facilitate a transition from instruction in a student’s native language to a predominant use of English in the classroom. Early-exit bilingual programs, also known as transitional bilingual education, aim to build sufficient English language skills that enable students to transition fully into all-English classrooms. The goal is to phase out native language support gradually as English proficiency increases.
The general model for these programs involves providing substantial support in the student’s first language at the beginning, alongside English instruction. As students progress through the grades, the use of their native language for instruction decreases, and the use of English increases. By the end of 3rd grade, students in many early-exit programs are expected to have developed enough proficiency in English to participate successfully in classrooms where English is the medium of instruction. This timeline can vary based on individual student needs and the specific program design, but the end of 3rd grade is a common benchmark for the completion of transitional support.
This transition timeline is based on research suggesting that it typically takes about three to five years for students to reach a level of academic proficiency in a second language that enables them to perform at grade level in all-English instruction. Choosing the end of 3rd grade as a transition point allows for several years of language development while still early in a student’s educational career, minimizing the disruption to learning as they move into middle school years.
The decision to exit a student from a bilingual program typically does not rest solely on parental recommendation, although parents are often involved in discussions about their child’s progress. Decisions about transitioning out of bilingual education are usually based on assessments of a student’s language proficiency, academic performance, and readiness to engage with an English-only curriculum.
Let’s create the image that reflects this educational transition.
Here is the image depicting a vibrant classroom scene in a bilingual education program. This illustration shows how a diverse group of students is engaged in a supportive learning environment, transitioning between their native language and English, under the guidance of their teacher. This visualizes the typical setting and approach of early-exit bilingual programs that aim to facilitate language proficiency by the end of 3rd grade.
