NJSBA Reminds Districts of Student Registration Restrictions

NJSBA Reminds Districts of Student Registration Restrictions—Web Extra

Local school districts are reminded that it is illegal to inquire about immigration status or Social Security numbers when registering children new to the district.

The issue received attention this week when the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey released results of a survey conducted over the summer. In that study, 187 school districts (of 516 districts that were successfully contacted) improperly requested information that would reveal a parent or child’s Social Security number or immigration status as a prerequisite for enrollment. There are federal and state prohibitions to this practice.

“Local school boards have no desire to deter immigrant children from attending public school. We do not believe there was any flagrant intentional act to violate state regulations on the part of local school officials,” said Frank Belluscio, director of communications at NJSBA.

“While school districts understand that no child can be denied attendance due to immigration status, some might not have been aware that state regulation prohibits seeking certain information, particularly Social Security numbers.”

Districts are also urged to review their Web sites to ensure there is no indication that a Social Security number is requested in the registration process. However, school districts are permitted to require proof that a family lives in the district for enrollment.

The New Jersey Department of Education’s Web site has a link to the administrative code section that deals with student residency; it also has sample forms, notices and informational documents on this topic.