State DOE Prompts Schools Not to Ask New Students About Legal StatusAdvocates say the state can do more to ensure schools don't block undocumented from registering
Under federal and state law, public schools are prohibited from requiring students to prove citizenship or legal status when registering for enrollment. Even inquiring about it at all with demands for Social Security numbers or other documentation is forbidden.
But advocates say schools are still not necessarily getting the message. They point to incidents like these to make their case:
One student’s family, intending to register for school, was asked for a Social Security number, according to the complaint they filed. Another was prevented from registering at all when the mother showed an expired visa, again according to their complaint.
Official Guidance
Acting state Education Commissioner Rochelle Hendricks this month sent guidance to all school superintendents reminding them of the law, and telling them to remind their principals and other administrators as well.
