A federal shift in immigration policies has raised questions for many Connecticut educators as to what these changes mean for them and their students.
CEA President Kate Dias met with Connecticut Attorney General William Tong this week and he assures educators that Connecticut’s policies remain the same.
“Connecticut’s policy to protect our people and provide the protections they are entitled to has not shifted,” Dias says.
Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker have issued a guidance document to every k-12 public school district in Connecticut in response to questions about how changes pertaining to immigration enforcement activities will affect school operations, student privacy, and the safeguarding of students while in school.
“Our schools are primarily places for learning and growth. It is important for our students and families to feel welcome and protected by their schools so educators can focus on teaching and students can focus on learning,” Lamont said. “To achieve this, we are supporting our school leaders in developing procedures that prioritize the protection of students and their information to the fullest extent permitted by the law.”
“Students are at their best when they are in school, fully engaged in learning, and feeling safe and supported by their school community,” Russell-Tucker said. “Our guidance is designed to help school districts develop policies and procedures that are clear and aligned with state and federal law, while ensuring all students feel welcome in their classrooms.”
Both Connecticut and federal law protect a student’s right to attend public school, regardless of their immigration status.
Dias says that the state guidance makes clear that school administrators and boards of education need to establish protocols for what happens should an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent approach a school.
“That’s administrators’ role; it’s not a teacher’s job,” she says.
Several Connecticut districts have already taken steps and issued guidance preventing ICE agents from entering schools without authorization from the superintendent.
Lubna Alam of NEA’s Office of General Counsel says that, due to FERPA protections, schools can’t turn over education records to police or federal agents without parental approval. Schools are only allowed to disclose what is known as “directory information,” and parents can opt out of allowing the disclosure of directory information.
Alam recommends that schools do not include place of birth in their directory information and that they make sure families know they can opt out of having their directory information disclosed.
Boards of education can also pass Safe Zone resolutions to reaffirm that a district is a welcoming place for all students, Alam says. Click here to learn more.
To better understand how to navigate policies and respond to students and families seeking more information, check out resources compiled by CEA.