Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE)

Overview

Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) programs offer students of the same home language the opportunity to learn to speak, understand, read, and write in English while continuing to learn academic content in their home language. The students’ home language is used to help them progress academically in all content areas while they acquire English.

The goal of a TBE Program is to provide students with the opportunity to transition to a monolingual English classroom setting without additional supports once they reach proficiency. Even though the amount of English instruction students receive will increase over time, in a TBE program, there will always be home language instruction/supports allowing students the opportunity to develop bilingually. These students also receive ENL classes to aid in the acquisition of English. 

Our Program 

Currently, we have the TBE program at the secondary level for our Spanish speakers. Students receive bilingual content instruction in Math and Science at Wells Middle School. At Brewster High School, students receive bilingual content instruction in select Science and Social Studies Regents classes. Students then receive ENL support through Stand Alone classes and integrated ELA classes. 

Seal of Biliteracy

Another requirement of the TBE program is the Home Language Arts class. This class is very similar to an English Language Arts class, but in Spanish. It focuses on the teaching and learning of reading, writing, speaking, and listening in Spanish. There is a specific progression of classes at the secondary level that leads to advanced credits and the Seal of Biliteracy. 

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, school district, or state in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. Our vision is to help students recognize the value of their academic success and see the tangible benefits of being bilingual. In order to receive the Seal of Biliteracy, students must complete a certain amount of coursework and demonstrate proficiency in two languages. Please visit our separate page about the Seal of Biliteracy to learn more. 

Exit Criteria

This program is a support given to students in order for them to learn content while acquiring English. This program is subtractive, in that as students gain English proficiency, they do not need the content in their native language. Exit from the program is fluid and depends on the progress of each individual student. Students at levels Entering, Emerging, Transitioning, and Expanding can all access the TBE program. Commanding students demonstrate proficiency in English and do not need this type of support.