Undocumented Students in California: What You Should Know

Undocumented Students in California: What You Should Know, provides a quick and accessible snapshot of our state’s undocumented student population. The resource highlights key demographic data on undocumented students in California, policies affecting immigrant students as well as opportunities and challenges to support these students.  We share common terms and pertinent policy information to help California’s students, educators, policymakers and other stakeholders as they make important decisions and advocate on behalf of these students.

Find the fact sheet, digital toolkit with sharable social media images, and a collection of additional resources below.

 

Additional Resources

National
  • United We Dream  is a youth-led organization advocates for the fair treatment of immigrant youth and families by providing organizing resources.
  • Educators for Fair Consideration  empowers undocumented youth to achieve their educational and career goals through financial support, leadership building, resources, and partnerships.
  • Immigrant Legal Resource Center  works with and educates immigrants, community organizations, and the legal sector to strengthen democracy with a lens toward diversity and human rights.
  • Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund  (MALDEF) is a Latino civil rights organization that promotes social change through advocacy, education, and litigation in a variety of areas.
  • ACLU  works to defend civil rights, including due process and equal protection rights for immigrants.
California Regional

Safe Haven/Sanctuary Schools

State Superintendent of Public Instruction recommendations to schools to declare themselves “safe havens”: http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/el/le/yr16ltr1221.asp http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr17/yr17rel0130.asp California School Boards Association legal guidance to school districts on equal educational access, regardless of immigration status: https://www.csba.org/Advocacy/EducationLegalAlliance/~/media/CSBA/Files/Advocacy/ELA/2017_02_legal-guidance-ProvidingAllChildrenEqualAccess.ashx Sacramento City Unified School District Board Resolution: http://www.scusd.edu/sites/main/files/file-attachments/safe_haven_reso_final_amended_final.pdf Los Angeles Unified School District Board Resolution: Download PDF San Bernardino City Unified School District Board Resolution: http://www.sbcusd.com/DocumentCenter/View/130954

Tools/Resources

Guidance for schools on helping immigrant families: https://www.ilrc.org/sites/default/files/resources/schools_post-election-v4.pdf ACLU Sanctuary Toolkit: https://www.aclusocal.org/en/publications/sanctuary-toolkit American Federation of Teachers’ Immigrant and Refugee Children Guide for School Staff: http://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/im_uac-educators-guide_2016.pdf Wall of Us script for calling school districts to support undocumented students and families: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15DFbvhGGqwYOHVrZNHO-Ju0KQUSlHkeYDpvH0Rf9ovE/edit Oakland Unified School District’s Sanctuary Resources: http://www.ousd.org/sanctuary United We Dream Toolbox: https://unitedwedream.org/toolbox/ Teaching Tolerance Immigrant and Refugee Children Guide for School Staff: http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-55-spring-2017/feature/immigrant-and-refugee-children-guide-educators-and-school-su

Lesson Plans

Teaching Tolerance classroom lessons: http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/immigration Living Undocumented secondary lesson plan materials: http://livingundocumented.com/lesson-plan-resource-guide/ School on Wheels’ lessons on college resources for undocumented  students: https://www.schoolonwheels.org/volunteer-resources/bus-program-8-12/options-after-high-school/lesson-12-college-resources-for-undocumented-students/

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Karla Fernandez

Communications Manager

Karla Fernandez (she/her/hers) joins Ed Trust–West as a Communications Manager with over 11 years of experience advancing social impact initiatives.

Karla started her career as a teacher at Chicago Public Schools and UIC College Prep. After teaching, Karla joined United Friends of the Children to support LA County’s youth in foster care as a college counselor. Through Leadership for Educational Equity, Karla also served as a Policy Advisor Fellow for the office of a Los Angeles Unified School Board Member. She solidified her interests in policy analysis and quantitative research during her time with the Price Center for Social Innovation, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, and the USC Presidential Working Group on Sustainability. Before joining The Education Trust–West, Karla was the Associate Director for the Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Collaborative, a network of nonprofits advocating for communities in SELA.

Karla holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of Chicago, a Master of Public Policy from the USC Price School of Public Policy, and a Graduate Certificate in Policy Advocacy from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Karla is based out of southern California and is passionate about using data analysis, communications, and digital strategies for policy advocacy and social justice efforts.