Education

Your child has the right to a free public education:

• Constitutional Law: All children in the United States have a constitutional right to equal access to free public education, regardless of the immigration status of themselves or their parents or guardians.
• 
  In California:
  • Every child has the right to a free public education.
  • All children aged 6 to 18 must be enrolled in school.
  • All students and staff have the right to attend safe, secure, and peaceful schools.
  • All students have the right to a public school learning environment free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, violence and bullying.
  • All students have equal opportunities to participate in any program or activity offered by the school, and cannot be discriminated against based on their race, nationality, gender, religion or immigration status, among other characteristics.

Information required for school enrollment:
When enrolling a child, schools must accept a variety of documents from the student's parent or guardian to demonstrate proof of the child's age or residency. You do not need to provide citizenship/immigration status information or Social Security number to enroll your child in school.

Confidentiality of personal information:
Federal and state laws protect students' educational records and personal information. These laws generally require schools to obtain written consent from parents or guardians before disclosing student information, unless the disclosure is for educational purposes, is public, or is in response to a court order or subpoena.

• Some schools collect and provide basic “student directory” information. If they do, your child’s school district must provide parents/guardians with written notice of the school’s directory information policy each year, and inform you of your option to opt out of the release of your child’s directory information.

Family safety plans in case of being detained or deported:
You have the option to provide your child's school with emergency contact information, including secondary contact information, to identify a trusted adult who can care for your child in the event that you are detained or deported.

• You have the option to complete a Declaration of Authorization for Caregivers or a Petition for Appointment of Temporary Guardian of the Person, which can give a trusted adult the authority to make educational and medical decisions for your child.

Right to lodge a complaint:
Your child has the right to report a hate crime or file a complaint with the school district if he or she is discriminated against, harassed, intimidated, or bullied based on his or her actual or perceived nationality, ethnicity, or immigration status.