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Baltimore City Schools says protocols are mandatory, outlines training and "Know Your Rights" resources
Summary
Baltimore City Public Schools told the City Council it has issued and repeatedly updated mandatory protocols, trained hundreds of staff and rolled out Know Your Rights materials and an immigration web page to help schools respond when federal immigration enforcement appears near schools.
Baltimore City Public Schools told the City Council27s Education, Youth and Older Adults Committee that it has moved from guidance to directives as federal immigration enforcement escalates, and that school staff should treat the district27s protocols as mandatory.
"What we control is what happens when young people enter our buildings," Tracy Durant, senior executive director in the Office of Equity, said during the hearing. Durant described a package of measures including training for principals and front-office staff, templates for school communications, and an immigration web page and Know Your Rights materials developed with community partners.
The district27s legal team said the first call in any enforcement-related event at a school site should be to its office. "If that happens the first call is to my office," said Josh Sivan, the district27s legal designee, emphasizing that the guidance includes steps staff must take and that the district does not collect or disclose immigration-status information.
BCPS officials said they have trained more than 800 school-based and central-office staff and regularly update protocols to reflect legal and operational changes. Principals at John Brewer and Lakeland elementary/middle schools described using the guidance to create "bubbles" of safety in classrooms and to coordinate on-family supports.
Council members pressed district leaders on whether the documents are recommendations or mandates; the district replied that the materials are directives intended to be followed and that school police and general counsel must be consulted when law enforcement appears on school property.
The district acknowledged continuing gaps and said it will return to the committee with additional 2025-26 data and clarifications on operational details. The hearing record includes links to the district27s updated policies and to one-pagers intended for school staff and front desks.
