The core of the case for bilingual education is that the principles underlying successful bilingual education emphasize the same factors that underlie successful language acquisition in general: understanding messages and obtaining comprehensible input; using background knowledge; and the development of literacy. The importance of the first language is discussed, and arguments against bilingual education (including the case for immersion--and submersion--programs as alternatives for limited English proficient children) are examined and rebutted. An argument is made for strengthening bilingual education by providing a richer supply of primary language reading materials. Sheltered subject matter teaching is also supported as a contributor to second language development and as a valuable part of bilingual education. It is concluded that properly organized bilingual programs work. Contains 46 references. (LB)