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Orange County Board of Education adopts resolution pledging support for immigrant students and families
Summary
The Orange County Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved a resolution affirming that all children in the district may attend public K–12 schools regardless of immigration status and directing district officials to limit disruptions to students’ learning environments.
The Orange County Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved a resolution affirming that all children in the district may attend public K–12 schools regardless of immigration status and directing district officials to limit disruptions to students’ learning environments.
The resolution, read aloud at the meeting, cites the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1982 decision in Plyler v. Doe and provisions of the North Carolina Constitution in Articles I and IX as the legal context for the board’s statement. It also affirms the district’s commitment to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protections and directs school leaders to follow district procedures when immigration officials request access to school property or student records.
Board members who drafted and presented the measure framed it as a response to local concerns about potential changes in enforcement of federal immigration policy and to research on the harms that family separations can cause to children. "Whereas the U.S. Supreme Court in Plyler versus Doe, 1982 ruled that no public school district can deny children access to a free public education based on their immigration status," the board read during the resolution presentation.
The resolution includes several specific commitments: it "welcomes and supports all Orange County School students and values the involvement and full participation of all Orange County School students, staff, and families in their school communities without regard to immigration status"; it affirms adherence to Board Policy 4.125; it states the district will disclose student information only as required by law or permitted by FERPA provisions (for example, to prevent imminent harm in a health or safety emergency); and it reserves the right to deny entry to school property unless a legal right of entry or exigent public safety circumstances exist.
Operational guidance in the resolution directs that requests by immigration officials be routed to the school principal, who should validate authorization and consult with the superintendent or designee, who may in turn consult legal counsel. The resolution also asks the superintendent to continue collaborating with community organizations that support undocumented and mixed‑status families and to report regularly to the board on attendance, dropout rates and student well‑being metrics so the board can monitor climate‑related impacts.
Board members stressed the research basis for the measure, noting evidence that child–family separations can cause lasting psychological and health harms. After the reading, the board took a formal vote; the motion passed with all members present voting in favor.
The board indicated the signed resolution will be distributed by district staff and that the superintendent’s office will follow up on the collaborative and data‑monitoring provisions in coming months.
