Always one troublemaker who ruins it for everyone else:
"The US Department of Justice began scrutinizing Boston’s programs last spring after reading a Globe story about a nonprofit report highlighting the lack of services for students with limited English skills"
I'm sure the school system needed and enjoyed the scrutiny.
Thanks, Globe.
"US to investigate English-teaching efforts in Hub; Civil rights review of lagging school program" by James Vaznis, Globe Staff | March 27, 2010
To force compliance, federal investigators could threaten to withhold millions of dollars in federal funds from Boston or pursue litigation.
Yeah, the agenda-pushing comes with costs, dear taxpayers.
If I did that to you it would be considered extortion.
Just a war-looting government serving you, citizens.
“We are not going in on a seek-and-find,’’ Russlynn Ali, the US Education Department’s assistant secretary for civil rights, said. “We have some clear areas identified by the state. . . . We want to ensure that students get the education they deserve and their needs are met.’’
**********
The district is spending millions of dollars this year on the effort and plans to spend $10 million next year. It has been intensely reviewing programs at each of its 135 schools, retesting thousands of students, training more than 1,000 teachers, and enrolling hundreds more students in specialized programs.
“English language learners’’ make up slightly more than 20 percent, or roughly 11,000, of Boston’s 56,000 students. One of the fastest-growing groups in the city and state, they have among the lowest MCAS score averages and graduation rates in the district and state.
A by-product of illegal immigration, but if you say that....
I wouldn't mind if the state wasn't raising taxes and wasting the loot.
The ongoing state review revealed one reason why those students may be doing so poorly: Forty-two percent of them have not been receiving the extra help state and federal civil rights laws entitle them to.
When are authorities going to care about taxpaying citizens?
In response Boston set a goal last year to provide such services to all the students within three years, as the district overhauls school programs and trains more teachers.
Across the state, the growth in English language learners has challenged districts. Many programs were thrown into disarray, advocates say, after voters in 2002 abolished widespread use of bilingual education, which allowed students to learn subjects in their native tongue until they master English.
The new law stresses teaching all subjects in English for non-native speakers, using a student’s native language only sparingly. But in making the switch, many districts have failed to provide appropriate staffing, training, and programs, either because of funding shortages or a misunderstanding of the legal requirements, advocates said....
Meanwhile, banks make billions in profits and executives pull down millions in salaries -- even as their companies lose money.
The US Department of Justice began scrutinizing Boston’s programs last spring after reading a Globe story about a nonprofit report highlighting the lack of services for students with limited English skills....
Since then, Mitchell Chester, state commissioner of elementary and secondary education, has been pushing Boston schools to be more aggressive, while reporting progress to federal justice authorities....
But if you holler federal takeover or fascism.....
Related: No Apple For This Teacher
Give it to 'em if it has a worm in it!
The Obama administration announced earlier this month that it is stepping up enforcement efforts of civil rights laws in the nation’s schools. It targeted Los Angeles first for a review of its English language learning programs.
Federal investigators based in Boston will comb student records, observe programs, and interview teachers, administrators, students, and parents. They also will review hundreds of pages of state documents.
Ali said some aspects of the investigation could take a few weeks, while others could take months. She said that the Education Department has never withheld federal funds for civil rights violations, but added, Education Secretary Arne Duncan “has made it clear we will use all tools to make sure students are free of discrimination.’’
Earlier this year, several local and national Latino organizations wrote a letter to Duncan urging him to consider Boston’s compliance efforts when deciding whether to dole out potentially millions of dollars in new education money to the district.
The federal review is a step in the right direction, said Jane López, a lawyer who signed the letter and works with Multicultural Education, Training & Advocacy, a national group with offices in Somerville. Still, she hopes the department will act on the request....
And now they are threatening to cut off the money?
Oooops!
Also see: School's Out Forever For Some Boston Teachers
I gotta get out of here, too.
