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Know Your Educational Rights

From the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General

 

Immigration Enforcement Actions at California’s TK-12 Schools

Guide for Students and Families

December, 2025

 

Your Child Has the Right to a Free Public Education

All children have a right to equal access to free public education, regardless of their or their parents’/guardians’ immigration status.

All children in California:

  • Have the right to a free public education.
  • Must be enrolled in school if they are between 6 and 18 years old, unless otherwise exempt.
  • Have the right to attend safe, secure, and peaceful schools.
  • Have a right to be in a public school learning environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying, violence, and intimidation.
  • Have equal opportunity to participate in any program or activity offered by the school without discrimination.
Information Required for School Enrollment

Schools must accept a variety of documents from the student’s parent or guardian to demonstrate proof of child’s age or residency and schools are not required to keep a copy of the document used as proof of a child’s age.

Information about citizenship/immigration status is never needed for school enrollment. A Social Security number is never needed for school enrollment.

Confidentiality of Personal Information

Federal and state laws protect student education records and personal information. These laws generally require that schools get written consent from parents or guardians before releasing student information, unless the release of information is for educational purposes, is already public, or is in response to a court order or subpoena.

Some schools collect and provide publicly basic student “directory information.” If so, the school district must provide parents/ guardians with written notice of the directory information policy, and provide the option to refuse release of your child’s information.

Family Safety Plans if You are Detained or Deported

You can update your child’s emergency contact information, including secondary contacts, to identify a trusted adult guardian who can care for your child if you are detained or deported.

You can complete a Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit or consult with legal counsel regarding options like a Petition for Appointment of Guardian to give a trusted adult the authority to make educational and medical decisions for your child.

Right to File a Complaint

Your child has the right to report a hate crime or file a complaint to the school district if they are discriminated against, harassed, intimidated or bullied because of their actual or perceived nationality, ethnicity, or immigration status.

For more information on resources for responding to immigration enforcement activities at California schools, or to file a complaint, please contact: Bureau of Children’s Justice

  • California Attorney General’s Office
  • P.O. Box 944255
  • Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
  • Phone: (800) 952-5225
  • E-mail: BCJ@doj.ca.gov

 

Checklist for Immigrant Students Attending Public Schools and Their Families

Resources

The following resources are available to immigrant families responding to detentions or deportations: