Board Reaffirms Commitment to Support Vulnerable Students and Families

The San Diego County Board of Education adopted a resolution at its March 2025 regular board meeting reaffirming the San Diego County Office of Education's commitment to vulnerable students and families. Resolution No. 2025-04 reads:

WHEREAS all children in the United States have the right to attend public schools free from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexuality, disability, citizenships, and immigration status, among other protected characteristics; and 

WHEREAS current uncertainty around federal policies on immigration, gender, sexuality, and diversity, equity, and inclusion is creating anxiety for many students and families in our schools, which makes it difficult for children to learn and requires educators to work even harder to support students while maintaining a positive climate to ensure learning can occur; and 

WHEREAS, San Diego County students, staff, and families originate from many different countries besides the United States, may have received temporary legal status under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, may be undocumented, and/or may live in mixed status households (meaning one or various members of the family can be undocumented while others have some kind of temporary or permanent status); and 

WHEREAS, LGBTQIA+ students, particularly transgender youth, suffer victimization and discrimination at school have worse educational outcomes and poorer psychological wellbeing, particularly during times of community instability; and 

WHEREAS, many parents and students from diverse backgrounds have expressed fear and confusion about the continued physical and emotional safety of all students and the right to access a free and appropriate education; and 

WHEREAS, educational personnel are often the primary sources of support, resources, and information to assist and support students and student learning, which includes their emotional health; and 

WHEREAS, the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) has convened a cross-departmental team to create and curate immigration resources including model policies; messaging for families; training for school staff; operations plans for situations where a student is deprived of adult care, supervision, or guardianship outside of school due to a federal law enforcement action; and a directory of legal aid resources; and 

WHEREAS, SDCOE has implemented those policies and plans in county-office operated programs; is using the messages and tools with staff members, families, and students; and continues to share the resources with districts and schools as best practices; and 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the San Diego County Board of Education reaffirms its support for its resolution number 2017-03 adopted on the 8th of March 2017 titled, Commitment to the Education of All Children; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that SDCOE will continue to provide resources and support to LGBTQIA+ students, particularly transgender youth, to ensure their right to adequate mental and physical healthcare; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, it continues to be the policy of SDCOE not to allow any individual or organization to enter a school site if the educational setting would be disrupted by that visit; given the likelihood of substantial disruption posed by the presence of ICE or state or local law enforcement agencies acting for ICE, any request by ICE or other agencies to visit a school site should be presented to the appropriate assistant superintendent or designee for review as to whether access to the site is permitted by law, a judicial warrant is required, or any other legal considerations apply; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, in its continued commitment to the protection of student privacy, SDCOE has reviewed its record-keeping policies and practices to ensure that no data is being collected with respect to students’ immigration status or place of birth; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that SDCOE shall post this resolution at every school site and distribute it to SDCOE staff, students, and parents in a variety of languages; and 

FINALLY, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the board affirms that certificated San Diego County Office of Education employees have the academic freedom to discuss this resolution during class time provided it is age-appropriate; and students are to be made aware that SDCOE counselors are available to discuss the subjects contained in this resolution.