Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a letter to education leaders Tuesday welcoming them back to school and reminding them of their obligation to ensure schools are a safe, supportive and welcoming environment for all students.
“California’s schools serve students and families from diverse backgrounds, languages and lived experiences,” Newsom said in the letter. “This diversity is one of our greatest strengths. It also requires continued focus on creating school communities where all students feel a sense of belonging and all families feel respected, valued and supported.”
Newsom reviewed California laws meant to protect immigrant students:
- All California children, including those who are undocumented, are allowed to attend school.
- School staff are prohibited from giving immigration officers access to schools without a judicial warrant.
- School safety plans must include a plan to notify parents and school staff if immigration officers are on site.
- School staff are forbidden from collecting information or documents about citizenship or immigration status from families unless required by law.
- Schools are prohibited from sharing any information about a person’s citizenship status with immigration enforcement without a court order.
Newsom also encouraged school leaders to ensure that families have access to referrals for health and mental health support, housing and food assistance and community based services.
“Together, we can ensure every child feels safe, supported, and ready to thrive – and every family knows they have trusted partners in their local schools,” Newsom said.
This story was originally published by EdSource.