Dear Families,
I am reaching out to reaffirm our commitment to you and your children. Please know that New York City Public Schools is dedicated to protecting the right of every student to attend public school, regardless of immigration status, national origin, or religion. Our policies remain the same, and I encourage you to continue to send your children to school.
As you may know, New York City Public Schools does not request or track families’ immigration or asylum status. Access to students, school facilities, or records will only be provided to non-local law enforcement when required by law, and only after consultation with New York City Public Schools’ lawyers. If an officer from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or other non-local law enforcement agency attempts to enter the school building or asks for information, our school staff know to contact our attorneys.
Since January, we have trained thousands of staff members—including principals, parent coordinators, school safety agents, guidance counselors, social workers, and more—on our policy and procedures. We will continue to ensure our staff are informed and prepared. We are also working with community partners to provide “Know Your Rights” training sessions for families in multiple languages. For more information, visit schools.nyc.gov/ProjectOpenArms. Families with questions about federal policies can call the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Legal Support Hotline at 1-800-354-0365.
We will continue to update our families and our school community as needed. To ensure you receive important news from New York City Public Schools, please make sure you have activated your NYC Schools Account (schools.nyc.gov/NYCSA) and that your contact information is up to date. You can also share updated contact information with your child’s school.
I know how important it is that our schools are safe places for our children; school was that safe place for me when I was young. The diversity of New York City Public Schools is one of our greatest strengths, and I am committed to maintaining a community where all students can learn and thrive.
In Partnership,
Melissa Aviles-Ramos Chancellor
For additional Messages to Families, and a version of this letter in other languages, click here for the NYC DOE Webpage: Messages for Families.
For more information regarding Project Open Arms click here for the NYC DOE Webpage : Project Open Arms.
For more information about updating your contact information, click here for the associated page on your LICHS Website.