By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Intern
Faculties throughout the nation are working arduous to develop and reinforce insurance policies that shield immigrant college students inside their scholar physique.
In a latest assertion given to the AFRO, Sherry Christian, the media and public relations supervisor for Baltimore Metropolis Public Faculties, mentioned district management is conscious of latest stories involving immigration brokers conducting so-called “wellness checks” on the houses of some households in Baltimore.
“We need to reassure our neighborhood that we take these issues significantly. We’ve constantly supplied our faculties and households with steerage on what to do if approached by immigration authorities—whether or not at residence or on college grounds,” mentioned Christian.
In 2017, in the course of the present president’s first time period, Board of College commissioners representing Baltimore Metropolis Faculties signed a decision that designates the Baltimore Metropolis Public College system as an “inclusive protected and welcoming district for all college students no matter immigration standing, faith, or nation of origin.”
The decision cites Plyler v. Doe, a Supreme Courtroom case, which made it in order that no public college district has a foundation to disclaim schooling primarily based on immigration standing. In letters to the neighborhood, they’ve supplied psychological well being and immigration sources throughout the space.
In Washington, D.C. Lawyer Normal Brian Schwalb —- has supplied steerage to colleges and households by a Regularly requested Questions doc. The lawyer normal notes that as a result of Federal Instructional Rights and Privateness Rights Act (FERPA), faculties don’t permit entry to scholar data with out written authorization from the guardian or authorized guardian or a court docket order. In keeping with the doc, it’s unlawful to share data in any other case.
Additional up on the east coast, the New York Metropolis Public Faculties District operates in a similar way, whereas additionally offering “know your rights” workshops for college students and oldsters. The periods join them to sources corresponding to “Venture Open Arms,” which supplies assist to college students searching for asylum.
In keeping with Nicole Brownstein, press secretary for New York Metropolis Public Faculties, the college district doesn’t observe immigration standing or gather knowledge on the nation of origin of its college students.
Melissa Aviles-Ramos, chancellor of New York Metropolis Public Faculties, mentioned her district– the biggest within the nation– is standing with its immigrant scholar inhabitants.
“We unequivocally stand with all kids in our metropolis no matter immigration standing. We need to be very clear—our insurance policies haven’t modified.”
She inspired mother and father to maintain sending their kids to high school.
In Los Angeles, amidst widespread protests and deportations, Alberto Carvalho spoke to members of the media in assist of immigrant college students.
“We stand strongly on the proper aspect of legislation. Each scholar in our neighborhood, each scholar throughout the nation, has a constitutional proper to a free public schooling of top quality, with out risk.” mentioned Carvalho, in a press convention held by the district. “Each one in every of our college students, independently of their immigration standing, has a proper to a free meal in our faculties. Each one in every of our kids, no questions requested, has a proper to counseling, social emotional assist, psychological assist.”
Carvalho additionally defined that they’re working to supply protections throughout among the greater than 100 graduations anticipated to occur all through the month of June in addition to the start of summer season programs. The college district is the second largest within the nation.
In Chicago, lawmakers are working to ban public faculties from denying a scholar entry to free schooling primarily based on that little one’s immigration standing or that of their mother and father.
In locations like Houston and Atlanta there have additionally been widespread protests and ICE raids. They every have launched statements re-iterating that college students have a constitutional proper to entry a free public schooling no matter immigration standing.
