Immigrant and Refugee Resources
All students have the right to a free, public K-12 education, regardless of their immigration status or that of their parents. This includes access to services and programs such as free- and reduced-priced meals, English-language development classes, special education, and school activities. Our critical mission – and our obligation under the law – is to ensure that our schools are safe spaces where a student’s race, ethnicity, religion and immigration status do not create any barriers to that child’s education.
It is important to know that the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1982 Plyler v. Doe decision affirmed that schools cannot deny enrollment to students on the basis of their immigration status, which ensures that all students have access to a free public education. Additionally, both federal and state laws prohibit discrimination and harassment of students on the basis of protected classes, which includes national origin, race, and color. You can find these prohibitions in the federal Title IV and Title VI statutes and in Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act, § 24-34-601, C.R.S. There is also long-standing federal guidance (see 2016 guidance and 2021 guidance), that schools are protected spaces where federal immigration authorities should not conduct immigration activities.
FAQ
- Are all students legally guaranteed a free public education regardless of their immigration status?
- Does Mapleton Public Schools ask for a child's immigration status when he/she enrolls?
- Would the district ever share a student's immigration status with federal immigration officials?
- If I am a parent or guardian worried about being detained while my child is at school, what should I do?
- What should I do if I want to understand my immigration rights?