In debate about education of immigrant kids, money talks

February 10, 2010

IF BOSTON schools can’t make faster progress in helping students with limited English skills, the US Department of Education will have good cause to withhold some federal aid. Latino and immigrant groups are asking the department to place conditions on money from the federal Race to the Top grant program requiring that Boston schools make aggressive efforts to educate so-called English language learners. The system’s halting record justifies this tough stance.

Students with limited English proficiency, who make up almost one-fifth the Boston Public Schools’ enrollment, drop out at high rates and score poorly on MCAS tests. The city deserves part of the blame. Until recently, the system did not properly test students whose first language is not English, and it failed to make their parents aware of all the services that might help their children.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/02/10/in_debate_about_education_of_immigrant_kids_money_talks/

[Posted by: Juliana Steers]