Immigration

Our district’s top priority is ensuring our schools are safe and welcoming spaces where our students are seen, valued, and know they belong. We believe that safety and belonging are essential to learning and that our schools should be places where students can achieve their full potential. We are dedicated to protecting the safety and well-being of every student and fostering a thriving environment where students and their families are welcome. 

Every child has the right to an education. A child's immigration status does not affect their right to attend school.

Suprement Court Ruling: Plyer v. Doe

Wenatchee School District will follow practices supported through the Supreme Court of the United States in Plyler v. Doe case to ensure that all children are legally entitled to a free public education regardless of their immigration status and that Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions will not occur on schools unless unlawful activity requires it.

District Policies and Procedures

Wenatchee School District has multiple policies and procedures in place to limit immigration enforcement on school grounds and protect students' rights.

Policy 4300 - Limiting Immigration Enforcement in Schools 
WSD Policy 4300 aims to limit immigration enforcement at schools to ensure all students can access education, regardless of immigration status. The policy applies to all school facilities and adjacent areas. 

Policy 3226 - Interviews and Interrogations of Students on School Premises
This policy discourages student interviews and interrogations at school, except in specific cases, like investigations of child abuse or other serious crimes. The district has a constitutional obligation to educate all students regardless of a student’s or parent's immigration status, and staff will not grant access to immigration agents without approval from the Superintendent or General Counsel.    

Procedure 3226P details how to handle interviews and interrogations on school premises, emphasizing that immigration agents must be denied immediate access. The procedure specifies that if an immigration agent requests access to a student or school site, staff must deny access, alert the principal, and forward the request to the Superintendent and/or General Counsel. 

Key Points:

• Only the Superintendent, with guidance from legal counsel, has the authority to grant immigration officials access to our schools and students.
• If an immigration officer comes to a school, staff should direct them to the district office.

FERPA: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records and restricts the sharing of personally identifiable information (PII) without parental consent or a judicial order.

No Self-Incrimination: Students have the right against self-incrimination and are not required to provide information about their residency status.

Information Sharing: The school district will not permit access to information, records, or areas beyond what is specified in a valid judicial warrant. 
 

Resources to Support Students and Families

We've gathered a list of local support services to help assist students and families who have immigration concerns and need help.