Safe Schools, Safe Students: Upholding the Law and Safeguarding Florida Schools in the Context of Immigration Enforcement Operations

A Toolkit for Florida Educators, Students, and Parents

Recent policy changes at the federal level have increased the likelihood that immigration enforcement activities will occur at schools. In response, schools around the United States are developing policies and training materials to address immigration enforcement.

Innovation Law Lab has prepared this toolkit to help Florida students, parents, educators, and community members understand their rights and defend school spaces as safe, positive learning environments. The Florida Constitution enshrines the right of all students residing in Florida, regardless of immigration status to access a “uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality” education system. This toolkit is designed to help Florida schools establish policies that uphold federal and state law and preserve the integrity of schools as safe places where everyone can learn.

Additional helpful resources, including many of the resources cited in the toolkit, are available here. We also recommend the national resources provided by the National Education Association.

If you have questions about this guide, please contact Tess Hellgren, Director of Legal Advocacy at Innovation Law Lab, tess@innovationlawlab.org.

This toolkit is intended as a starting point to provide general information useful to Florida schools and community members; it does not provide legal advice.