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Laguna Beach board adopts immigration-related policy updates to align with state guidance
Summary
The board adopted a package of immigration-enforcement–related policy updates (6A–F) recommended by state guidance and CSBA to ensure legal compliance and standardized staff protocols. Trustees approved the block 5-0 and agreed to consider any additional local measures at a later date.
The Laguna Beach Unified School District board unanimously adopted a package of policy updates on Feb. 26 intended to align district rules with recent state guidance on immigration enforcement and student protections.
"These policy adjustments are recommended to bring you in compliance with the law," Superintendent Jason Glass told the board before trustees voted to adopt the combined items (6A–F), which the administration framed as statutory alignment rather than programmatic change.
District staff and counsel said the updates follow model language from the California School Boards Association and guidance from the California Department of Education. According to Glass, the changes are intended to standardize staff response protocols, protect student access to education and reduce litigation risk without creating discretionary new enforcement duties for staff.
Board counsel Jonathan (John) Pearl answered trustees’ questions about scope, saying the policies bring the district into compliance but do not prohibit the board from later considering additional local protections. Trustee Howard Hills warned staff and the public to avoid wording imprecision; he noted concerns about how the term "immigrant" appears in local reporting and the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). District staff clarified for the record that the district does not collect students’ citizenship or immigration documentation during enrollment and that federal reporting categories (e.g., Title III) do not reveal immigration status in student records.
Trustees voted 5-0 to adopt the consolidated block of policies. Members said they would consider placing follow-up items on a future agenda if there are recommendations for additional local protections consistent with counsel’s advice.
Next steps: The adopted policies take immediate effect to meet statutory timelines; staff and counsel said they will return to the board if further local policy refinement is proposed or if the board requests additional protective measures for students.
The unanimous vote reflected trustee interest in legal compliance and a cautious approach to any local measures that could exceed state guidance.
