Education Committee

The Education Committee is co-facilitated by the SRRC and the Rise HUB of Opening Doors, Inc. Lucy Bollinger of Elk Grove Unified School District, is our School District Representative and is on the SRRC Leadership Committee. For more information, contact Lucy Bollinger (EGUSD) and the SRRC. 

In April, an Education and Immigration roundtable brought together educators, community organizations, and advocates to identify the most urgent challenges facing immigrant students and families, assess existing resources, and define actionable steps schools can take to improve support systems. Participants highlighted that fear and misinformation are major barriers preventing families from accessing essential services, including public benefits, healthcare, and school-based resources. This fear is compounded by concerns about sharing personal information, mixed-status family dynamics, and a lack of preparedness for emergencies. Schools are also seeing the emotional toll on students, including stress, instability, and gaps in caregiver support. A wide network of resources already exists. These services include legal organizations like CAIR and CIP as well as mutual aid groups like NorCal Resist, and regional collaborations such as Opening Door's RISE Hub. Participants noted that access and coordination remain inconsistent. Schools often struggle to connect families to these resources effectively, particularly due to language barriers and limited outreach capacity.

Key gaps include:

• Clear and consistent messaging (e.g., “safe haven” vs. “sanctuary”)

• Ongoing training for school staff on immigration-related issues

• Language-accessible information, especially for emerging communities

• Trust-building and proactive communication with families

• Structural needs like housing support, transportation, and digital literacy

There is strong interest in deepening partnerships with organizations to create more coordinated, community-based support systems.

Overall, we emphasized the need for proactive, trust-centered, and accessible approaches that meet families where they are, before crises occur. Here are some immediate actions you can take:

1. Attend a Know Your Rights + Family Preparedness Workshop
with partners like NorCal Resist that offer a workshops on a regular basis - https://www.norcalresist.org/calendar.html

2. Refer to this Emergency Response Guide for Educators of Immigrant Origin Students. This guide outlines school policies in California, ideas from the field, crafting a school plan, supporting students and immigrant families, and Sacramento information. 

3. Share information on training school staff on immigration response & student support. Organize a short training for teachers, front office staff, and administrators on:

• How to respond to immigration enforcement situations

• Supporting students experiencing stress or family disruption

• What information can/cannot be shared

If you like to see your school champion these efforts please join us on July 13th at 1pm virtually to support one another in meeting these goals. 

Additional Resources:

• Emergency Response Guide for Educators of Immigrant-origin Students for the Sacramento Region

• National Newcomer Network: A hub of resources for educators working with immigrant and refugee students (Join here).

• School Policy Guidance: "What to Do if ICE Visits Your School" – sample policies and best practices from districts nationwide.

• Meeting Notes & Resource Links: Compilation of materials from the December and February meetings available at links provided.