Working with Undocumented Students

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Working with UndocumentedStudents
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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

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Agenda

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

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Resources

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

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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

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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

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Understanding Your Undocumented Student
Population

• Students understanding varies
• Those who know their status and advocate for
  themselves
• Those who dont 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

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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
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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

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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

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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

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History of Policies and Legislation - Federal

• Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
  Responsibility Act (IIRIRA)
• - 1996
• States cant 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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 GrantHow will
  undocumented students gain access?

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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.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Sequoia High School Dream Club Make the Club
Visible

• Posters
• Yearbook page
• T-shirts
• School newspaper
• San Mateo Daily Journal
• Staff presentations
• Facebook

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YEAR BOOK PAGE
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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
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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

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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 youre
  doing and see the impact their potential
  contribution can make?
• How will you make concrete commitments for
  working together?

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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?

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CONTACT US

• Jane Slater- Sequoia High School, Redwood City
• jslater_at_seq.org
• Lorenzo Gamboa, Santa Clara University
• LGamboa_at_scu.edu
• Louise Gill, College Track
• louisegillcas_at_gmail.com
• Websites www.E4FC.org