COMMUNITY NOTICE
New York Education Law § 3201-b – Protections for Students and Families
Northville Central School District is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and supportive educational environment for every student and family.
New York Education Law § 3201-b protects a student’s right to receive a free public education regardless of the student’s actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status, or the actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status of a parent or person in a parental relationship to the student.
Under § 3201-b, the District is prohibited from taking actions or implementing policies or practices that deny, delay, or discourage a student’s access to education, programs, or activities based on actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status.
Consistent with New York Education Law § 3201-b:
- All students are entitled to attend school and receive a free public education regardless of their actual or perceived immigration or citizenship status.
- The District will not use school resources for immigration enforcement purposes.
- The District will not inquire about or collect information concerning a student’s or parent’s citizenship or immigration status, except where permitted or required by law.
- The District will not disclose information concerning a student’s or parent’s actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status, except as permitted or required by law.
- Immigration status, citizenship, nationality, and national origin will not be designated as directory information.
- The District will not use enrollment or registration procedures that have the intent or effect of delaying or denying a student’s enrollment based on the student’s citizenship or immigration status.
- The District will not grant or facilitate access to non-public areas of school property for immigration enforcement purposes unless presented with a valid judicial warrant or subpoena signed by a federal District Court judge or as otherwise required by law upon consultation with legal counsel.
- The District will not release a student to an immigration authority based solely on the detention or arrest of a parent or person in a parental relationship, absent the legal authority required by § 3201-b.
- Civil immigration warrants, immigration detainers, notices to appear, and other non-judicial immigration documents do not, by themselves, provide sufficient authority to access non-public areas of school property or take custody of a student.
If the District becomes aware that a parent or person in a parental relationship is unable to retrieve a student because the parent or person in a parental relationship has been detained by immigration authorities, or if a student is not picked up as scheduled, the District will follow its established procedures to ensure that the student remains safe.
The District will make reasonable efforts to contact individuals authorized to retrieve the student including emergency contacts. The student will remain safely on school premises until picked up by an individual authorized by the parent/person in a parental relationship or otherwise authorized by law. The District will not contact the statewide central register for child abuse and maltreatment unless reasonable efforts have first been made to contact all known individuals authorized to retrieve the student and upon consultation with legal counsel.
Parents, guardians, and members of the school community who have questions regarding the protections provided by Education Law § 3201-b may contact:
Dr. Sarah A. Chauncey
Northville Central School District
(518) 863-7000 ext. 4120
schauncey@northvillecsd.org
The District’s procedures for implementing Education Law § 3201-b are available at https://www.northvillecsd.org/new-york-education-law-3201-b-community-notice/ or you may obtain a physical copy at the District Office.