Source: http://www.nysed.gov/bilingual-ed/information-regarding-recent-immigration-related-actions
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 06:56:08+00:00

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Recent immigration-related actions by federal officials have created fear and confusion across the country. New York State residents, whom both of our agencies and the New York State Board of Regents have pledged to serve, have communicated directly with our agencies about the anxiety and questions these actions raised. The New York State Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”) and the New York State Education Department (“SED”) write today to reaffirm to students, schools, families, and communities across the State of New York that our schools will remain safe havens where all students can learn.
Recently, our agencies have received questions specifically concerning school districts’ obligations with respect to possible inquiries from representatives of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”), including requests to meet with or interview students, or to obtain access to student records. As you know, various laws impose legal duties on school districts with respect to law enforcement questioning students at school and the confidentiality of student records, including the New York Family Court Act (“NYFCA”) and the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”). A breach of such duties, even to fulfill a request from federal immigration authorities, could expose school districts to liability. For this reason, our agencies encourage all school district employees to consult with their superintendents and school attorneys immediately upon receipt of any request made by a federal immigration official. Prior to responding to any such request, school district employees should work with their superintendents and attorneys to determine whether honoring such a request could cause the school district to violate a law of general applicability.
Requests to meet with or interview students. It has long been SED’s position that law enforcement officers may not remove a student from school property or interrogate a student without the consent of the student’s parent or person in parental relation, except in very limited situations (e.g., when law enforcement officers have a valid warrant or when a crime has been committed on school property).5 School officials are encouraged to cooperate with law enforcement within the bounds of the law and local school policy. We strongly recommend that, should ICE or other federal immigration officials appear at a school seeking access to students (for interviews and/or questioning), a school district should advise all staff to immediately contact the superintendent and the school district’s attorney for guidance, particularly with respect to its duties under the Education Law, Plyler, and NYFCA before allowing access to a student.
SED’s Office of P-12 Education Policy is also issuing guidance today to schools and districts regarding the Dignity for All Students Act (“DASA”) in light of reports involving incidents of harassment in schools across the country in recent weeks. That guidance will be available here: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact/documents/dasa-guidance.pdf.
At a time when so many questions are being raised on what immigrant-related actions will be taken by the federal government, it is vital that we, as educators and government officials, remind our school communities about the importance of inclusiveness and the right of all students to receive an education without fear of reprisal simply by being in school. Our classrooms must remain safe havens for all children. We again thank you for all the work you do to support our students, families, and communities.
1 See Educ. Law §§ 3202(1), 3205.
2 Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982); see also Appeal of Plata, 40 Ed. Dep’t Rep. 552, Decision No. 14,555.
4 With specific reference to Social Security identification, SED does not require districts to collect students’ Social Security cards or numbers for any purpose or at any time, either prior to or following student enrollment.
5 See, e.g., N.Y.S.E.D. Counsel’s Opinion 91 (June 17, 1959) (“officers of any kind may not remove a child from a school building while a child is properly in attendance without permission of the child’s parents for questioning”); see also N.Y.S.E.D. Counsel’s Opinion 148 (Feb. 23, 1965) (“The school particularly does not have custody of pupils for the purpose of authorizing law enforcement officers or other third parties to interrogate pupils or to remove them from the premises for any purpose whatever.”) This position is based on various laws including, inter alia, NYFCA, which requires that a police officer must make every reasonable effort to immediately contact a child’s parent or anyone responsible for the child’s care when a child under the age of 16 is taken into the custody of law enforcement, and further holds that such a child cannot be interrogated, unless and until his or her parent or guardian, if present, is advised of the child’s rights and afforded an opportunity to attend the interrogation. See N.Y. Family Court Act § 305.2; Matter of Jimmy D., 15 N.Y.3d 417 (2010).
6 See 20 U.S.C. § 1232g.
7 Pursuant to 34 C.F.R. §99.31(a)(3), disclosure may be made, subject to the requirements of 34 C.F.R. §99.35, to authorized representatives of the U.S. Comptroller General, the U.S. Attorney General, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, or State and local educational authorities.
8 See 34 C.F.R. § 99.31.
Click here for an official copy of this field advisory.
In recent weeks, reports regarding incidents of bullying, discrimination, and harassment in schools across the country have surfaced in the news media. In addition, there have been recent immigration-related actions by federal officials that have created fear and confusion across the country. The New York State Education Department (“NYSED” or “the Department”) takes very seriously any action that compromises the school climate in which our students come to learn every day. In New York State, advocates, parents, and school staff have called upon the Department to expand and build upon existing guidance and resources to combat harassment, bullying, and discrimination, as well as to enhance efforts to build and maintain positive school climates pursuant to the Dignity for All Students Act (“DASA” or “the Dignity Act”).
New York State’s Dignity Act was signed into law in 2012 to provide students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function, and was amended in 2013 to include cyberbullying1. The law requires schools to provide students, persons in parental roles, and staff with information about DASA and to develop policies and procedures that require a safe school environment. Specifically, DASA requires school districts to develop Codes of Conduct that prohibit harassment, bullying (including cyberbullying), and discrimination against students by other students or school employees, as well as provisions for responding to incidents of discrimination and harassment and reporting such incidents to NYSED.
As described below, NYSED, together with the New York State Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”), has issued guidance and resources to help school staff, students, and parents report and address incidents of harassment, bullying, and discrimination. A joint guidance document issued by NYSED and the OAG in August 2016 includes a sample form for reporting and investigating DASA incidents.2 The Department wishes to augment this important work by reminding schools and families that guidance and technical assistance regarding DASA and safe and supportive schools are available from the Department.
Individuals may also appeal a district’s action pursuant to Education Law §310. Education Law §310 provides that parties considering themselves aggrieved by an action taken at a school district meeting or by school authorities may appeal to the Commissioner of Education for a review of such action. Information on filing appeals is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Bengali, and Haitian Creole at: www.counsel.nysed.gov.
Please note that the Department is committed to safeguarding the privacy of personally identifiable student level information and handles all such information in accordance with applicable privacy laws and regulations, including the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”).
The Department will be issuing resources for parents, guardians, and other interested individuals regarding DASA, translated into the top ten languages spoken across New York State.
In addition, NYSED has identified the following resources and tools that can help school staff, students, parents, and communities. Please use these resources where applicable, and join us in our efforts to ensure the safety and health of all children by aligning these tools with your school communities’ goals and needs.
1 For additional guidance and resources related to the Dignity Act please visit: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact/.

References: v. 
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