A discussion of bilingual education analyzes current issues, reviews related research, describes innovative and exemplary program formats for dual-language programming, and examines issues in bilingual education for both limited-English-proficient (LEP) students and monolingual native-English-speakers. The first chapter provides an overview of language policy, because language policy is part of the political environment within which bilingual education must be considered. Chapter 2 focuses on language proficiency assessment. The third and fourth chapters discuss program models and methods of instruction used in bilingual classrooms. The roles of teachers and paraprofessionals in bilingual classrooms is addressed in chapter 5. The subsequent chapter analyzes legal issues and clarifies requirements for serving LEP children. The final chapter answers questions frequently asked about bilingual education, including special language-learning situations, optimal age for second language learning, mainstreaming, raising a bilingual child, the rights of undocumented students, national official language policy in the United States, salient political issues, and the scope of bilingual education. A 62-item bibliography and addresses for obtaining additional resources and support are appended. (MSE)