Immigration Enforcement Actions at California 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. A Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit can be completed, or you can 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. Additional information provided here: Promoting a Safe and Secure Learning Environment for All
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 https://oag.ca.gov/bcj/complaint
