KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
California’s top education official sent a letter asking districts to be mindful of existing law and protecting a student’s immigration status, in an open letter this week.
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California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson penned a letter Wednesday, encouraging all public schools to be declared “safe havens” for students and their parents, and to remind families about existing laws that protect students’ records.
A “safe haven” is a policy of protecting undocumented immigrants by not prosecuting them solely for violating federal immigration laws in the country in which they are now living illegally.
“Unfortunately, since the presidential election, reports of bullying, harassment, and intimidation of K-12 students based on immigration status, religious, or ethnic identification are on the rise,” said the letter Torlakson sent to all county and school district superintendents, charter school administrators and principals.
However, some local education officials disputed the need for a “safe haven,” saying that the policies in place are adequate.
Saugus Union School District officials have not noted an uptick beyond the “ordinary challenges,” although a number of programs exist to reinforce tolerant behavior, according to district officials.
“We have talked about being ever so much more observant and ensuring that all children are safe at school. Administrators are closely observing what is going on in school and monitoring behaviors,” said Joan Lucid, superintendent of the Saugus Union School District. “Everyone continues to be proactive and work with our children through the Pillars of Character, Circle of Friends and Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) systems. Administrators have not reported any issues out of the ordinary challenges we encounter.”
The president of the governing board for the SCV’s junior high and high school district said the letter was redundant, as the William S. Hart Union High School District was in compliance with the law.
“The Hart district will not be declared a ‘safe haven’… the letter is filled with things that are already being done,” said Joe Messina, president of the William S. Hart Union High School District governing board.
The Hart district will be a safe learning community, where students and staff create a culture of respect, based on equity and inclusion, and where differences are valued and are seen as an asset, not as a liability, according the district’s diversity policy.
In response to a lawsuit in 2006, the Hart district developed a Diversity Action Plan.
The plan’s goal is to establish a District-wide “culture of respect” for diversity and to create culturally proficient campuses and classrooms by establishing a common language and experience through which honest and earnest discourse may take place regarding diversity issues.
Newhall School board officials expressed appreciation for the letter, and the state superintendent’s support of local districts.
“The Newhall district prides ourselves in honoring our differences,” said Christy Smith, Newhall School Board Member, “we thank the state office for writing this letter.”
The letter encourages all parents and guardians to fully participate in their school communities. Engaged parents play a key role in helping students succeed on their way to 21st century careers and college.
The California Department of Education (CDE) will continue to provide local educational agencies (LEAs) with guidelines about existing laws that protect student records, including the 1984 Plyler v. Doe U.S. Supreme Court decision that requires schools to enroll all eligible children regardless of immigration status.
Schools must verify a student’s age and residency, but they have extensive flexibility in what documents are used and do not need to use pertaining to immigration status. No records can be released to law enforcement without a parent’s written permission, a court order, or subpoena. Schools should not collect or maintain any documents pertaining to immigration status, according to the CDE.
“Together, we can make it clear we will do our best,” said Torlakson, “to make sure the prospect of the deportation of undocumented students and their families will not interfere with helping our students succeed.”
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