Legislation to require the state to biannually distribute a letter to school districts reminding them of the requirement to enroll resident students regardless of immigration status was advanced Monday by a Senate panel.
The bill, sponsored by Assembly Democrats Ruben J. Ramos Jr., Annette Quijano and Marlene Caride, is based on a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that held that undocumented children living in the United States could not be excluded from public elementary and secondary schools based upon their immigration status.
“These children were entitled to an appropriate public education,” said Ramos (D-Hudson). “We’re talking about children who have no control over their immigration status, and we should want them to be enrolled in school and properly educated so they can become productive members of our society. When you think about it, this is just common sense.”
“It’s important to regularly remind school districts that a child’s immigration status does not affect his eligibility to attend public school,” said Quijano (D-Union). “We are rightly committed in New Jersey to educating each and every child, and this bill simply reminds everyone of that goal.”
“Requiring the Department of Education to biannually distribute a letter to each school district reminding the district of the obligation to enroll resident students regardless of immigration status is the right thing to do for children,” said Caride (D-Bergen/Passaic). “This is about fairness and ensuring a better future for our state.”
Under the bill, the letter must be distributed by Aug. 1 and Dec. 30 of each school year and must include information on the documentation that may be requested pursuant to state board regulations to demonstrate a student’s eligibility for enrollment in the district.
The bill was approved 64-13 by the Assembly in June and released Monday by the Senate Education Committee. TLS.
Here come the Democrats telling us how we need to help the more needy, even if they are illegally in the country. What do you think this will do to the Lakewood graduation rate. Stop putting these Democrats in office they are going to destroy the economy! Who is going to pay for all these illegal students, the hard working taxpayers. Stop the madness vote them OUT of office.
These illegals should not become productive members of our society. They should become productive members of their society (let them all be deported). If they are legal citizens, then and only then, should they be entitled to education with MY tax dollars. This retardation has got to STOP!!!
gee…now if it were just that easy for frum kids to get an education!!
everyone is entitled to a great education! so long as they pay for it- sorry, but if u don’t pay taxes, you are not entitled to an education system paid for by tax dollars. They should have a paying option in public schools for illegal residents