"Several local and national Latino organizations are urging US Education Secretary Arne Duncan to withhold potentially millions of dollars in aid from Boston schools until the district complies with federal and state laws for programs that teach students who speak limited English."
In a letter sent Wednesday to Duncan, the organizations said Boston has done little over the last six years to remedy its lack of services and equal educational opportunities to thousands of the students.
“The problems to which we allude are longstanding,’’ wrote Roger L. Rice and Jane E. López, attorneys with Multicultural Education, Training & Advocacy, a national organization with offices in Somerville that works on behalf of multilinguistic children. “Boston has resisted facing up to its obligations and continues to do so.’’
The organizations are targeting money from the “Race to the Top’’ fund, a competitive program created by President Obama for states that pursue innovative educational improvements and overhauls of failing schools. Massachusetts, which submitted an application last month, is hoping to receive $250 million.