For Educators: Supporting Undocumented Students & Their Families
Contents
Overview
There are many things that you can do to create educational environments in which students of all backgrounds can thrive socially, emotionally, and academically. Teachers, in particular, can create inclusive and safe learning environments for all students by incorporating lesson plans and classroom activities that are designed to cultivate empathy and trusting relationships, create a sense of belonging, and reduce discriminatory stereotypes and actions.
The contents of this guide were provided by our partners at Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) and Californians Together.
For young children, schools and caregivers should focus on creating environments that are supportive and that allow students to connect meaningfully with teachers, staff, and other students. Sesame Street in Communities and First 5 CA have created a booklet for families: Care, Cope, Connect, and Abriendo Puertas published a video that provides insights for parents about how to comfort a young child who faces bullying or potential family separation.
Elementary and middle schools can affirm school support for immigrant families by engaging students and families in activities, lessons, and displays that reflect and celebrate diversity. Schools and districts can also provide families with easy-to-understand information about their rights and immigration legal services in their primary language, host family events and trainings with local nonprofit organizations, and ensure that teachers and other staff know about said resources (more info in next section).
High schools can create welcoming and inclusive environments through targeted lessons and leadership activities (Beyond Differences). Older students can be provided with tools to initiate at-home conversations about family preparedness planning in the event that they are impacted by immigration enforcement or deportation (see next section). Finally, students and parents in immigrant and refugee families should receive counseling support about preparing for college, financial aid options, and career pathways.
Suggested Resources
Safety Planning for Immigrant Parents and Caregivers
In the current climate, communities are afraid and unsure of what the future holds. To help students and their families grapple with the stress that comes with this uncertainty, education and preparation can be useful tools to empower immigrants and help them regain some sense of control. Schools, as trusted institutions in immigrant family’s lives, can play a critical role in ensuring that families have access to important information and resources, and that they are prepared for possible immigration arrests and/or detention. This Guidance for Schools from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center provides an excellent overview.
Engaging immigrant families in a culturally sensitive manner can strengthen trusting relationships and enable educators to learn about parents’ and caregivers’ concerns and aspirations. Effective practices include:
- Establishing direct lines of communication with students and families in English and other languages
- Partnering with immigrant-serving community organizations to inform families about their rights and immigration options
- Involving bilingual family resource center staff, family liaisons, and trained parent volunteers to engage and support families on a range of issues
- Widely communicating all school and district policies and resolutions related to inclusivity, student safety, and records confidentiality
In general, families should be prepared and have a plan of care for their children and financial assets in case of an emergency. These plans include identifying an alternative caregiver, gathering important documents, and updating emergency contact information at schools. Under the current administration and given the current climate, a family preparedness plan can help a family feel equipped to deal with a future emergency, such as immigration detention. A family preparedness plan is a useful tool that should be tailored to each family and their specific needs. However, if not presented correctly, these plans may be overwhelming and add to the stress already facing the community. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) has developed a comprehensive “Family Preparedness Plan” and an accompanying webinar for advocates explaining families’ choices.
Districts and schools should establish protocols for ensuring student safety if a student is in school when a parent or guardian is detained by immigration officials, the emergency contact cannot be reached, and/or there is no one available to transport a child to their home or to school. All staff and families should have a clear understanding of the process.
As outlined in this brief from The Children’s Partnership and the California Immigrant Policy Center, the emotional and physical well being of children is negatively affected by threats of deportation and anti-immigrant scapegoating. Schools can provide essential support by increasing district-based behavioral health services and/or referring families to affordable mental health specialists and counselors.
School and district officials can help to ensure that immigrant students and families are prepared for emergencies by hosting and/or advertising presentations and workshops conducted by reputable nonprofits. Undocumented immigrants may be hesitant or fearful to attend a public event intended only for immigrants without legal status, so make sure events are geared toward all individuals who are interested in immigration updates. Many immigrant-serving community-based organizations will conduct free “Know Your Rights” presentations to inform families and educators about the basic rights of noncitizens, and there are also several high quality online resources. In California, community events and legal services workshops are listed by Ready California.
Educators can play a key role in directing students and families towards legitimate legal advice and away from fraudulent and exploitative services. Many immigrant families are “mixed status” with U.S. citizens, lawful residents, and undocumented people all in the same household. Undocumented immigrants should get an immigration “checkup” to learn about possible protections and options.
Local legal service providers may offer clinics or drop-in hours where a person can quickly speak with an attorney and then be provided with next steps to access services. Schools and districts can help identify reliable, low-cost nonprofit immigration legal services organizations through the following online sources: Ready California; National Immigration Legal Services Directory and Catholic Legal Immigration Network. They can also distribute flyers about avoiding fraudulent immigration services.
Suggested Resources
Policies and Protocols Impacting Immigrant Students and Families
Under the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Plyler v. Doe, all K-12 students in the United States are guaranteed a free public education regardless of immigration status. This right includes other services and programs provided through the public school system, such as free lunches and special education programs. However, how school districts comply with this obligation varies widely, and local policies and practice have a significant impact on creating safe environments for immigrant students.
Some states and school districts have responded to concerns about the safety of immigrant students and families by adopting “Safe Haven” or “Sanctuary” resolutions. These resolutions specify how a district plans to implement policies, procedures, staff training, and community engagement on a range of issues, including the process for sharing (or not sharing) students’ information with immigration enforcement officers and responding to school-based immigration enforcement activities (see below). This EdSource article gives a good overview of these types of resolutions. See also, NEA Safe Zone School Districts, an Immigrants Rising guide for educators, and this advisory from the National Immigration Law Center.
According to federal guidance, “immigration or citizenship status is not relevant to establishing residency in [a] district, and inquiring about it in the context of establishing residency is unnecessary and may have a chilling effect on student enrollment.” Districts should establish clear guidelines, review policies and enrollment forms, and train staff on enrollment requirements. Page 27 of the LAUSD Education and Immigration Resource Guide is an excellent example of clear enrollment procedures for a school district.
In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), school districts generally must keep student records private, but they are required to share records in compliance with a valid judicial warrant. However, school districts may choose to share directory information without consent, including a “student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth”. A district may determine what details are included in student directories as well as give parents the opportunity to opt out of providing their personal information.
Immigration enforcement on school grounds may interfere with a student’s right to an education granted under Plyler v. Doe. If students are afraid to attend class, the “chilling” effect that occurs may lead to a denial of students’ constitutional rights. Current U.S. Department of Homeland Security policy limits immigration enforcement at “sensitive locations”, including schools, school bus stops, medical facilities, places of worship, religious or civil ceremonies, and during public demonstrations. The U.S. Department of Education has released a fact sheet on safe spaces for families and school staff. This is an internal policy first adopted in 2011 and has since been reaffirmed by the current administration. However, because it is an internal policy, it is not binding and may be changed at any time. Districts should have a clear procedure in place for if immigration officials try to enter a site or request student records. (A sample template can be found in this publication from the California Charter School Association and Stanford Law School.)
Suggested Resources
Access to Higher Education and Campus Safety for Immigrant Students
States have different policies regarding admissions and enrollment for undocumented students in public post-secondary institutions, and many private colleges and universities have their own rules. At least 21 states provide in-state tuition to undocumented students and have been mapped by the National Immigration Law Center (NILC).
Many undocumented students have successfully navigated post-secondary education and have shared their stories. The California State University “Resources for Undocumented Students” provides an excellent example of how to provide access to information and resources for undocumented students.
Colleges and universities across the country have adopted policies and procedures to ensure safety for immigrant students. Some schools have established “Dream Centers” to provide specialized support for undocumented students, and many also have active student support organizations.
Suggested Resources
Scholarships Open to Undocumented Students
Undocumented college students are not eligible for federal financial aid, but some states provide financial aid and loans, and some private schools use institutional aid to support undocumented students. There are also many private scholarships available to undocumented students. Below are a few websites that track scholarships to which undocumented students can apply. Educators should familiarize themselves with these resources so that they can assist college-bound students in financing their college degree.
Suggested Resources
Helping Parents and Caregivers Become Prepared for Detention
Schools can help families prepare for all situations by providing information, templates and access to resources to have a plan in case of detention or deportation.
Families should be prepared and have a plan of care for their children in case of detention, including identifying an alternative caregiver, gathering important documents, updating emergency contact information at schools. ILRC has a comprehensive “Family Preparedness Plan” and an accompanying webinar for advocates explaining families’ choices.
Find more resources and materials on how immigrant families can prepare here.
As outlined in this brief from The Children’s Partnership and the California Immigrant Policy Center, children’s mental health is negatively affected by the current environment of increased immigration enforcement and fears. Schools can provide support by providing the opportunity for families to connect with mental health specialists and counselors.
Schools should establish a protocol for student safety if a student is in school
when a parent or guardian is detained by immigration officials, the emergency
contact cannot be reached, and/or there is no one to either get the child home
or to school. Staff and families should have clear understanding of the process.
Many immigration and community-based organizations will make “Know Your Rights” presentations at schools for free. Schools can also use the ILRC toolkit to provide general information to families. Families know and trust their local schools and school personnel, and by hosting a presentation, schools can ensure that their families are prepared for any eventuality. For specific immigration issues/questions raised by families, it is important to refer families to immigration attorneys or a DOJ-accredited representative.
Suggested Resources
Help Students Find a Lawyer
Educators, especially classroom teachers, are trusted sources of information for students and families. Educators can be prepared by knowing where to direct students and parents for pro-bono or low-cost, legitimate legal advice. It’s important for educators to stress that families seek legal advice from an immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative and that free legal advice is available throughout the country from a variety of sources.
Suggested Resources
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