Immigration

Aspire Public Schools is committed to providing a safe environment for students to receive a high quality education.  We serve all students, including students who are undocumented or who have undocumented families.  We value diversity and believe that the diverse backgrounds of our students and families help create a rich educational environment.  To ensure that students and families feel safe on our campuses we do not collect any information about the immigration status of our students, and we have enacted polices prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race and national origin.

Read Aspire’s resolutions on our commitment to Dreamers and immigrant children in the Aspire community:

• Commitment to the Dreamers in the Aspire community
• Commitment to the education of all immigrant children.

An Update on DACA

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is based on a 2012 executive order by President Obama. On Tuesday, September 5, 2017, the current administration announced the repeal of DACA, which will happen slowly over the next six months.

Aspire’s Stance – We Stand with Dreamers

Aspire Public Schools is committed to providing a safe environment for students to receive a high quality education.  We serve all students, including students who are undocumented or who have undocumented families.  We value diversity and believe that the diverse backgrounds of our students and families help create a rich educational environment.  To ensure that students and families feel safe on our campuses we do not collect any information about the immigration status of our students, and we have enacted policies prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race and national origin.

Additionally, the Aspire Board of Directors passed the following resolution:

ASPIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ COMMITMENT TO THE DREAMERS IN THE ASPIRE COMMUNITY

The meeting of the Board of Directors of Aspire Public Schools (“Aspire”) was called to order on September 14, 2017 pursuant to notice and a quorum was present for the transaction of business.

WHEREAS, Aspire operates public charter schools in communities with significant populations of undocumented persons;

WHEREAS, on September 5, 2017, the Trump administration announced its intention to wind down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”) program, which grants deferred action from deportation for undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as minors; and

WHEREAS, the announcement had an immediate impact on the Aspire community and in the regions and neighborhoods that Aspire serves.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Directors of Aspire that:

Aspire supports DACA and undocumented students and families, shall endeavor to compile and publish a list of resources to assist members of the Aspire community who are impacted by the decision, and shall advocate for legislation that supports a path to citizenship for DACA recipients and DACA-eligible individuals within the Aspire community.

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If you have any questions about our commitment to serving all families, please feel free to contact us at info@aspirepublicschools.org.  Additionally, here are some frequently asked questions about our practices at Aspire:

FAQs

Q: Does a parent’s immigration status or a child’s immigration status affect whether the child can attend public school?

A: No. The 14th Amendment of the Constitution provides a right of equal access to education to children regardless of their immigration status or their parents’ immigration status.

Q: Does Aspire Public Schools ask for a child’s immigration status?

A: No. Aspire enrolls students regardless of their immigration status or any other protected classification. Aspire does not ask for immigration status at the time of enrollment or at any time. Aspire does not maintain any record of any information regarding immigration status and therefore cannot share that information with any federal immigration officials.

Q: What does Aspire do to ensure that no student or family is discriminated against or harassed because of their race, ethnicity, religion, national origin or other protected classification?

A: Aspire believes deeply in ensuring equity and in providing safe learning environments for students. Aspire enforces its policies that mandate no discrimination or harassment for our students, families, or employees on the base of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin and any other protected classification.

Q: What should I do if I feel like I have been the victim of discrimination or harassment?

A: Please report the behavior immediately to a supervisor or school leader. We take these issues very seriously to ensure that our schools continue to be safe spaces where all are welcome and valued.

Q: How can I learn more about my immigration rights?

A: You should rely on immigration attorneys and other experts to provide you with accurate advice about immigration status and how you can pursue any legal rights you might have. A list of available resources can be found below. Also, you can seek an immigration attorney from the American Immigration Lawyers Association here.