Working with Undocumented Students

1. Working with UndocumentedStudents

2. Presenters • Jane Slater, Sequoia High School, Redwood City • Lorenzo Gamboa, Santa Clara University • Student, UC Santa Cruz • Student, Santa Clara University • Student, Sequoia High School • Louise Gill, College Track

3. Agenda • Resources for your undocumented population • History of policy and legislation around undocumented students postsecondary access • Creating a supportive school culture

4. Resources • E4FC www.e4fc.org • Scholarship Lists • Student Guides • Educator Guides • Parent Guides • Advocacy Materials

5. Resources • YOU! • Understand your AB 540 population • Study in-state tuition/college-specific policies • Provide scholarship information • Identify and involve role models • Refer to legal service providers • Create a safe community and be an ally

6. Understanding Your Undocumented Student Population • Range of time in country • Family members with different status • Assume there is at least one undocumented student in each of your classes

7. Understanding Your Undocumented Student Population • Students’ understanding varies: • Those who know their status and advocate for themselves • Those who don’t know… and find out filling out FAFSA or other applications • Those whose parents want them to hide it • Those who see no hope & have given up • Those who just think things will work out

8. Overview: Undocumented Population Estimated 1.8 million K-12 500,000 Students 9-12 65,000 Graduate High School 5,000 Pursue Higher Ed Few graduate Source: Pew Hispanic Center 2008

9. History of Policies and Legislation - Federal FERPA - 1975 • Family Educational and Privacy Act • Protects privacy of student records at educational institutions • No risk for deportation just by applying to or enrolling in college

10. History of Policies and Legislation - Federal Plyler v. Doe - 1982 • 1982 Supreme Court ruling • K-12 education is a fundamental, protected right • All children living in the United States regardless of citizenship or residency status

11. History of Policies and Legislation - Federal The Federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of (PRWORA) - 1996 • Ineligible to receive federal aid • Prevents states from offering public benefits unless state passes a statute

12. History of Policies and Legislation - Federal Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) - 1996 • States can’t extend benefits on basis of residency unless offered to U.S. citizens….sec 505 • However, no federal law prohibits the advancement of undocumented students into higher education

13. History of Policies and Legislation - State Varies by State • In-state Tuition (CA, CT, IL, KS, MD, NE, NM, NY, OK, TX, UT, WA, and WI) • Out-of-state Tuition (AK, AZ, CO, GA, NC, VA) • Not even allow entrance (SC, AL) • All others are in between “Residency” = “Intent” & “Duration” - Michael Olivas, legal scholar

14. History of Policies and Legislation - State Most states with in-state policies require students to: • Attend high school within that state from two to four years • Have graduated from high school or gained equivalent of (i.e., GED, proficiency exam) • File affidavit with university stating intent to pursue legal residence

15. History of Policies and Legislation - State In-state tuition: • Only reduces the cost of tuition • Does not provide financial aid (NM, TX, & UT are exceptions) • Does not provide a path to residency/citizenship • Affects public universities mostly; private institutions everyone pays the same tuition

16. History of Policies and Legislation - California AB 540 - 2001 • Allows certain non-resident students (including undocumented students) to receive in-state tuition • in California • Students must complete at least 3 years of (and graduate from) high school in CA • AB 540 ≠ undocumented

17. History of Policies and Legislation - California CALIFORNIA DREAM ACT - 2011 • AB 130 & AB 131 • Passed in 2011 • Will allow AB 540 students to access public and private funds to support their college educations

18. History of Policies and Legislation - California AB 130 • Grants undocumented students access to state and non-state funded resources to finance education • Private scholarships administered through CA public colleges & universities • Effective January 2012 • Contact individual financial aid offices for school-specific awards

19. History of Policies and Legislation - California AB 131 • Grants undocumented students access to state- funded financial aid funds (Cal Grant) • Institutional grants • Board of Governors (BoG) fee waivers at CCs • State financial aid (Cal Grants) • Effective Jan 2013 (Cal Grants 2013-2014)

20. History of Policies and Legislation - California Challenges to the CA Dream Act • AB 130-Funds do not have to be made available to undocumented students • AB 131-FAFSA is required for Cal Grant…How will undocumented students gain access?

21. History of Policies and Legislation – Federal DREAM Act! Federal Dream Act: IF SIGNED into law: Would grant qualified* immigrant students the opportunity to obtain legal status and thus enable them to pursue higher education and contribute fully to the national economy legally. Downside: only a temporary solution and students would still be limited on financial resources. *Must have completed at least 2 years of an educational degree or have served in the US military and have been in the US 5 years prior to the signing of the bill.

22. School Culture - Recognizing your school’s culture with respect to undocumented students What Students See and Hear Positive Negative Staff publicly addresses issue The issue is avoided DREAM club Negative comments Available resources Staff lacks knowledge Staff attempting students’ native language

23. School Culture - Recognizing your school’s culture with respect to undocumented students What Staff Should See and Hear • Topics related to undocumented students on staff meeting agendas • Student presentations to staff • Legal expert visits/ guest speakers • Visible info for AB540 students • Posted scholarships not requiring SSN (Naviance) • Go-to people on staff. Public allies you can send students to. • Public conversations (with students & staff) about different immigration status • Respect for confidentiality

24. School Culture - Starting a Club • Get the students there • Enlist staff allies • Have specific projects to work on (short term goal momentum) • Develop long-term goals • Develop students’ leadership abilities within the club • Publicize • Connect to community resources

25. Sequoia High School Dream Club: Get Students There! • Invite students personally • Include documented students • Encourage members to bring friend(s) • Present to classes • Announce in daily bulletin • Collaborate with counselors

26. Sequoia High School Dream Club: Enlist Staff Allies • Gain administration support • Present yourself as a resource to staff on these issues • Use your personal connections on staff • Connect with staff who can share their knowledge, time & resources

27. Sequoia High School Dream Club: Make long- and short-term goals • Annual Event • Presentations at Middle Schools • Presentations to parents • Participation at community events • San Mateo County Youth Conference, Teens In Action Community Showcase • Fundraising for Scholarships • Political Activism • Rally in support of Dream Act, postcard campaign on Back To School Night

28. Sequoia High School Dream Club: Make the Club Visible • Posters • Yearbook page • T-shirts • School newspaper • San Mateo Daily Journal • Staff presentations • Facebook

30. YEAR BOOK PAGE

31. Sequoia High School Dream Club: Connect to Community Resources Immigrant Youth Action Team Sequoia High School Redwood City 2020 Redwood City Public Library Fair Oaks Community Center Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula International Institute of the Bay Area Alumni Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center Sequoia District Migrant Youth Program Cañada College student group and Upward Bound

32. Partnering with Community Groups Benefits of Building Community Partnerships: • Partners and supporters who share your mission, work with same population, and can spread your message • More resources (financial and in-kind) to help grow and expand your current efforts • A greater network of individual allies, mentors and partners who build meaningful relationships and experiences with undocumented youth

33. Broadening your Community Partnerships • Who in your community shares your mission or serves undocumented youth in some way? • What are they already doing that can contribute to your efforts? • When can you get together and learn about each others’ work and learn how you can both benefit? • Where can these partners experience what you’re doing and see the impact their potential contribution can make? • How will you make concrete commitments for working together?

34. Creating a Supportive School Culture What can you do as part of your every day behaviors to make all students feel safe? • Think of one undocumented student with whom you work. What is one concrete thing you can do as his or her ally to show your support?

35. CONTACT US • Jane Slater- Sequoia High School, Redwood City jslater@seq.org • Lorenzo Gamboa, Santa Clara University LGamboa@scu.edu • Louise Gill, College Track louisegillcas@gmail.com • Websites: www.E4FC.org