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Educating and advocating for all students

All students deserve the opportunity to learn without fear and distress. However, educators are witnessing firsthand the trauma students, their families and our communities are experiencing as a result of harsh immigration enforcement. Here are some resources to help you know your rights and to help your students and community.

  • Make your school a Safe Zone

    Our schools need concrete policies and procedures in place to be prepared in the event of an immigration law enforcement action. Check out the NEA sample Safe Zone Resolution & Model Policy on the page, including this Higher Ed resolution to get your school board to designate your school as a Safe Zone. Then add your school district to the list of Safe Zones across the country. Here's an FAQ about safe zones. 
    Add your school

  • Know your rights and your students' rights

    Mas información en Espanol

    • Cualquier persona que viva en los Estados Unidos tiene derechos legales, con independencia de su situación de inmigración. Consulte esta ficha "Conozca sus derechos" de la Asociación Nacional de Educación de los Estados Unidos. 

    • El Tribunal Supremo de los Estados Unidos ha clarificado con el caso Plyler v. Doe (1982) que todos los niños y jóvenes en el estado de Washington - incluso a los que no son documentados - tienen derecho a una educación pública gratuita.

    Como resultado de la decisión Plyler, las escuelas públicas: 

    • No pueden negar la admisión a un estudiante en base al estatus migratorio.
    • No pueden tratar a un estudiante de manera diferente para determinar la residencia.
    • No pueden participar en ninguna práctica que pueda tener un "efecto escalofriante" en la inscripción escolar.
    • No pueden requerir que los estudiantes o padres revelen o documenten su estado migratorio, incluyendo números de Seguro Social.
    • No pueden hacer preguntas a los estudiantes o padres que puedan exponer su situación de indocumentado. Ejemplos incluyen solicitar el estatus de un estudiante al inscribir al estudiante como estudiante de inglés o al inscribirse para comidas gratis o a precio reducido.

    Fact sheet

  • Make your students feel welcomed

    Learn more

  • Other immigration guidance

    Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson prepared this guide to answer questions that local organizations, including schools, may have about changes to immigration and enforcement by the federal government. 

    Governor Inslee's webpage with resources for for immigrataion and refugees. 

    OSPI webpage on immigrant student rights to attend public schools. 

    Character reference letters

    Character reference letters are part of the packet immigrants compile for naturalization process. Students or their families who are in the process of becoming US citizens should seek advice of an immigration attorney. WEA doesn't endorse specific companies, but there are many that can be found online to help inform what should be in a character reference letter. Search "immigration character reference letters."