The paper, originally given at a 1986 Ethnic and Multicultural Symposium, reports the findings of school-based research in California to identify effective bilingual special education programs and instructional practices. The educational program at one model site (Azusa Unified School District) is described including the elementary school demographics (70% Hispanic); student characteristics; the school-wide approach; instructional practices in reading, language, spelling, writing, and math; and prereferral interventions. Stressed for program replication is the need for a strong interface among regular education, bilingual education, and special education staff. It was concluded that the Azusa program includes program components identified in the literature as necessary for effectively meeting the needs of culturally and linguistically different exceptional students. (DB)