ERIC Identifier: ED321962
Publication Date: 1990-09-00
Author: Hunter, James - Howley, Craig B.
Source: ERIC Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools
Undocumented Children in the Schools: Successful Strategies
and Policies. ERIC Digest.
Undocumented immigrants are people who have not been legally admitted
into the United States. Estimates of the size of this population vary widely,
from about 3 million to 12 million (Willshire Carrera, 1989a). Census data
suggest, however, that of the millions of undocumented immigrants in this
country, 77 percent are from Mexico and Latin America. Approximately 20
percent come (in equal numbers) from Asia and Europe (Willshire Carrera,
One-fifth of all undocumented immigrants are estimated to be children
under the age of 15 (Willshire Carrera, 1989a). Although undocumented children
are not legal residents of the United States, they have the right to attend
public school. Since 1982, a Supreme Court ruling, Plyler v Doe, has guaranteed
This Digest reports the background of this landmark case and describes
the difficulties that undocumented children are likely to face as a result
of their status. Next, it considers the educational rights of undocumented
children and the responsibilities of schools that serve them. Finally,
it summarizes both practices to avoid and practices that can benefit this
group of students.
BACKGROUND OF THE PLYLER CASE
The access of undocumented children to public schools in the U.S. is
naturally an issue in states like Texas, where many undocumented immigrants
live (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1988). Before 1982, a Texas law prevented
state funds from being used for the education of undocumented children.
Under Texas law, Local Education Agencies (LEAs) could deny enrollment
to such students.
In Plyler v Doe, however, the United States Supreme Court held, in a
five-to-four decision, that the Texas law was unconstitutional. The ruling
was based on the equal protection provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment
to the U.S. Constitution. Of particular concern to the Court was the fact
that children--rather than their parents--were involved (Uerling, 1982).
The Court believed that denying undocumented children access to education
punished children for their parents' behavior. Such an action, the Court
noted, did not square with basic ideas of justice (Uerling, 1982).
Following the Plyler ruling, many undocumented students began to attend
public schools in the United States (Haney, 1987). Because of the protections
imposed by Plyler, however, the exact size of this group of students is
difficult to estimate.
UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES
All students deal with stressful events as they mature. Immigrant students,
however, face additional challenges (Willshire Carrera, 1989b). The most
distressing may include violence (often a result of warfare or civil strife
in children's native lands) and separation from family members. Other stresses
include adaptation to a new culture, the challenge of learning a new language,
and, often, the insult of racial discrimination in this country (Willshire
Carrera, 1989a). Many immigrant families have a difficult time simply making
ends meet; many lead lives of poverty in urban areas (First, Kellogg, Carrera,
Lewis, & Almeida, 1988; Olsen & Chen, 1987; Valdivieso, 1990).
As a subset of the immigrant population, undocumented children are likely
to confront the most distressing experiences of all (First et al., 1988).
In addition to the usual experiences of growing up, and the unusual stress
of immigration, undocumented immigrant children worry about deportation
(Willshire Carrera, 1989a). If their undocumented status is discovered,
the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has the legal authority
to investigate them. Further, the INS may detain them--apart from their
families--in federally operated centers (First et al., 1988; Morales, 1987).
ACCESS: STUDENTS' RIGHTS AND SCHOOLS' RESPONSIBILITIES
Plyler addressed the usual link between residency and the right to attend
public school. The Court found that residency requirements are constitutional
only if they are properly defined, uniformly applied, and designed to further
a substantial state interest. In the case of undocumented children, the
Court found that state residency requirements do not meet these tests.
States can no longer use residency requirements to deny undocumented
children access to a tuition-free public education. Under Plyler, undocumented
immigrant students have the same right to attend public schools through
grade 12 as do citizens and permanent residents.
School staff need to be aware and sensitive as they deal with all immigrant
students. In particular, they must act to preserve the right of access,
especially by guarding the confidentiality of students' immigration status.
In fact, if an undocumented student reasonably perceives that an action
has the intent of exposing immigration status, then the right of access
is compromised (Willshire Carrera, 1989a).
Plyler, moreover, requires that schools apply the right of access to
all immigrant students. This step guards against improper distinctions
between documented and undocumented children. One exception exists. Immigrants
with F-1 and M-1 visas are required by Congress to get the approval of
the INS before they may attend school in the U.S. (Willshire Carrera, 1989a).
This provision, however, does not apply to other immigrant students, including
undocumented immigrant children.
WHAT SHOULD SCHOOL STAFF DO?
At a minimum, school staff should avoid certain actions. The spirit
of the decision is that school staff should work to make access a meaningful
benefit. The right of access, for example, implies that undocumented students
also have access to appropriate special programs available to other students.
- Actions schools should avoid include the following (Willshire Carrera,
- asking about a student's immigration status or requesting documentation
at any time;
- barring access to a student on the basis of undocumented status or
alleged undocumented status;
- treating one student differently from others in order to determine
residency, or on the basis of undocumented status;
- making inquiries of a student or parent that might expose the undocumented
status of either; and
- requiring undocumented students or their parents to apply for Social
The final point may need some explanation. Because undocumented students
are not eligible for Social Security numbers, schools may not require them
as a condition of enrollment. If school staff must distribute application
forms, they should stress that completing the forms is up to students and
parents. Parents and students must understand that school staff will not
monitor the actual filing of the forms.
In general, the activities of the INS and the professional obligations
of public school staff do not intersect. Schools, for example, may not
contact INS about any undocumented student. Officials of the INS should
be welcomed in schools only with a valid subpoena or legal warrant (see
Willshire Carrera, 1989b, for more details). If a school should inadvertently
discover an undocumented status, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act (and similar state acts) pertain. These laws bar the school from supplying
such information to any organization, including the INS.
For the most part, the above recommendations concern procedures. Meaningful
benefits, however, are what the right of access is all about. Willshire
Carrera (1989a) recommends that, in responding to the needs of undocumented
students, school staff:
- understand the troubled nature of immigrants' daily lives;
- understand and actively provide the right of access established by
- establish a school climate that all immigrant students will find open
- provide counseling and guidance that is responsive to the conditions
of immigrant students' lives;
- develop policies and practices that strengthen immigrant students'
access to effective instruction;
- respect immigrant communities' native languages and cultures, but
at the same time, help immigrant students learn English well;
- hire, train, and retain competent staff who can provide appropriate
services to immigrant students; and
- develop strong working relationships with immigrant families.
Teachers, administrators, and other school staff should strive to treat
undocumented students with the same respect and care they show for other
students. Effective instruction, productive school climate, parent involvement,
the methods of sound bilingual education--all are needed by undocumented
students, as they are by other immigrant, bilingual, and special needs
Access to public schools in the United States entitles undocumented
students to the varied benefits provided by a number of special programs.
These programs include: (1) the Emergency Immigrant Education Program;
(2) those that receive funds under Section 204 of the Immigrant Reform
and Control Act; (3) the Transitional Program for Refugee Children; (4)
bilingual education programs; (5) Chapter 1 programs; (6) Headstart programs;
(7) special education; and (8) free and reduced meal programs (see Willshire
Carrera, 1989a, for more details).
THE BOTTOM LINE
Because undocumented students lead lives under threat and suspicion,
many leave school before graduation. Others simply do not enroll in school
in the first place. Teachers and administrators can foster--both in the
school itself and in the community--the atmosphere of acceptance, security,
and trust that undocumented children desperately need. Instruction should
reflect both a respect for native cultures and a commitment to helping
students master English. Careful staffing is also important in creating
programs that can respond sensitively to the needs of undocumented students.
First, J., Kellogg, J., Carrera, J., Lewis, A., & Almeida, C. (1988).
New voices: Immigrant students in the U.S. public schools. Boston, MA:
National Coalition of Advocates for Students. (ERIC Document Reproduction
Service No. ED 297 063)
Haney, W. (1987). An estimation of immigrant and immigrant student populations
in the United States as of October 1986. Boston: National Coalition of
Advocates for Students.
Morales, J. (1987). Improvements ahead in INS treatment of detained
children. Youth Law News, 8(3), 1.
Olsen, L., & Chen, M. (1987). Crossing the schoolhouse border: Immigrant
students and California public schools. San Francisco, CA: California Tomorrow.
(ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 295 779)
Plyler v Doe, 457 U.S. 202, 102 S.Ct. 2382 (1982). Uerling, D. (1982,
August). The Supreme Court and educational policy: The protected interests
in education. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Conference
of Professors of Educational Administration, San Marcos, TX. (ERIC Document
Reproduction Service No. ED 224 108)
U.S. Bureau of the Census. (1988). The Hispanic population in the United
States: March 1988 (Advance Report; Current Population Reports, Series
P-20, No. 431). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Commerce. (ERIC Document
Reproduction Service No. ED 299 081)
Valdivieso, R. (1990). Demographic trends of the Mexican-American population:
Implications for schools (ERIC Digest). Charleston, WV: ERIC Clearinghouse
on Rural Education and Small Schools.
Willshire Carrera, J. (1989a). Educating undocumented children: A review
of practices and policies (Trends and Issues Paper). Charleston, WV: ERIC
Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools.
Willshire Carrera, J. (1989b). Immigrant students: Their legal right
of access to public schools: A guide for advocates and educators. Boston,
MA: National Coalition of Advocates for Students.
This Digest is based primarily on the ERIC/CRESS trends and issues paper
referenced above (Willshire Carrera, 1989a).