In sheltered English programs students are separated from the mainstream for 1-3 years to learn English, often without much other content.


Sheltered English programs work to get the student into a mainstream class as soon as possible by providing an intensive English program for a specified period, generally between one and three years, and then introducing the student into the English classroom.


Because these programs are based on the idea that a student can learn English in the time allowed for intensive English instruction, students often receive little to no assistance once their English instruction has been completed.


These students sometimes do well in lower grades, but are highly likely to drop out when they reach more rigorous content in middle and high school.


One important drawback of the Structured English approach is that students miss out on over a year's worth of content, which compounds the difficulties that they face when they are reintroduced to the mainstream classroom.