But those high marks propelled him into the faster mainstream classes.

These students, who had been unable to sustain attention and were failing mainstream classes, are now doing well.

Achievement in the special-education program as well as mainstream classes is also shared.

One of the studies shows that 84 percent of kindergarten students in E.S.L. entered mainstream classes within three years.

But among kindergarten students who moved between bilingual and E.S.L. programs, just 20 percent entered mainstream classes within three years.

Mr. Levy's plan, which would give them a longer school day, is aimed at moving them sooner into mainstream classes taught in English.

After four years, 38 percent of them still didn't know enough English to transfer to mainstream classes.

At its core, bilingual education teaches children in their native tongue while gradually teaching them English so that after a few years they can join mainstream classes.

The bonuses would be distributed to schools based on the number of students in bilingual programs who pass tests to move into mainstream classes.

Now, when students have learned enough English to move into mainstream classes, schools lose that additional money.