ABSTRACT

 From Plyler to Sanctuary: Education Policies Promoting a Welcoming and Safe Environment for Immigrant Families

All students, regardless of their immigration status, have the right to free public education in U.S. elementary and secondary schools. However, complaints from across the country about discriminatory enrollment practices have made clear that not all district and school personnel are aware of their obligation to enroll children from unauthorized immigrant families. Some families—including those with legal status—have reported being turned away due to a lack of required documents to prove the student’s age, relationship to the guardian, or residence within the district. In addition to complying with federal and state guidance on the enrollment process, in the past year some districts have affirmed that they welcome immigrant families by declaring themselves sanctuary districts or safe havens. The specifics of each declaration differed, but most included a policy that schools would not cooperate with immigration enforcement officers unless they had a warrant, subpoena, or court order; outlined processes for school staff to comply with law enforcement requests; and limited the kinds of information related to immigration status that schools and districts can collect.

This working paper was presented at a forum, “The Impact of Immigration Enforcement Policies on Teaching and Learning in America’s Public Schools,” in Washington, DC on February 28, 2018.