Education Policy

Supporting Immigrant Students Through Advocacy

Community advocacy hands photoPublic schools, by law, must serve all children. Community advocates across the country are taking steps to protect immigrant children’s access to education in the current atmosphere of political discourse that attacks immigration and threatens immigrant families.

Below are resources and tools for you by IDRA, federal agencies and others.


Good Things to Share

Welcoming-Immigrant-Students-IDRA-Infographic-2019-Letter-English-4in72Infographic for school community and families: Welcoming Immigrant Students in School (bilingual)

Infographic for educators: 10 Strategies for How Schools Should Respond to Help Children Impacted by ICE Raids (bilingual)

U.S. Department of Education Dear Colleague Letter to Educators, School Leaders and Families: Resources for Ensuring Equal Access to Education for Immigrant Students, January 8, 2025


News

Education Week: Undocumented Students Have the Right to a Free Education. This Is Why, November 2024 – Chloe

San Antonio Express News (forthcoming) – Chloe

‘It is an empty threat’ | Organization, local schools react to Gov. Abbott’s remarks on challenging Plyler v. Doe, 2022 – Celina

K-12 Dive: Schools take proactive steps to protect immigrant students, December 2024


Learn about Plyler vs. Doe

This U.S. Supreme Court Decision guarantees immigrant students’ right to attend public school

Fact sheet containing information on the rights of all children to enroll in school. The fact sheet is also available in Spanish.

Joint guidance letter from the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice describing the obligations of states and school districts under federal law to provide all children — regardless of immigration status — with equal access to public education at the elementary and secondary levels. The letter also is available in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

Plyler v Doe at 40 – Schooling Guaranteed for Immigrant Children – See IDRA’s video interview launched on the 40th anniversary of Plyler v Doe featuring Dr. Albert Cortez, who testified in one of the cases in Texas. He sat down with IDRA chief legal analyst, Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to discuss the history of the case, the plaintiffs, the arguments, and the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. This interview is also available as a Classnotes Podcast.


More IDRA Classnotes Podcast Episodes

Immigrant Children’s Rights to Attend Public Schools – Podcast Episode 94

The Law in Education – YCT v Smatresk at UNT – Classnotes Podcast 243

Supportive College Climates for Undocumented Students – Classnotes Podcast 242

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