Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

New Education Department Guidance on DACA and Undocumented Youth Great Step Toward Facilitating Success of Students

  • 10/20/15

Washington, D.C. — Responding to the release of the U.S. Department of Education’s resource guide to help schools, colleges, teachers, and other personnel support the college and career success of undocumented and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, youth in secondary and postsecondary settings, Tom Jawetz, Vice President of Immigration Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:

Undocumented youth—including those with DACA—are members of our communities and our families. They are future business owners, employees, and co-workers. They are future Americans. This country should do all it reasonably can to educate these young people and ensure their success because their success is our success. Additionally, undocumented people are at heightened risk of discrimination and other abuses and undocumented students no less so. Empowering people with knowledge of their rights and the resources to exercise those rights is what a good democratic society does.

Sarah Audelo, Policy Director for Generation Progress, added:
This guide is a great step to help educators and staff support students for academic and career success, to debunk misconceptions about the legal rights of undocumented students, and to ensure that youth are taking the necessary steps to enroll and/or re-enroll in the DACA program. As a previous Generation Progress report quoted in the resource guide explores, among many other issues, the admissions process for postsecondary institutions can be tough for undocumented youth, who face a number of additional hurdles. We hope that Congress, states, institutions, and entire systems of higher education will continue this work to ensure that our undocumented community has the support it deserves.

The following experts are available upon request to speak on this issue:

  • Tom Jawetz, Vice President of Immigration Policy, Center for American Progress
  • Catherine E. Brown, Vice President of Education Policy, Center for American Progress
  • Sarah Audelo, Policy Director, Generation Progress

Related resources:

For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, please contact Tanya S. Arditi at [email protected] or 202.741.6258.

Featured

  • Surging Demand for Student Housing Fuels Major Campus Investment Opportunities

    University leaders throughout the U.S. are accelerating plans to modernize and expand student housing as enrollment stabilizes and demand for on-campus living rebounds. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that total postsecondary enrollment is projected to grow through the end of the decade, with undergraduate enrollment alone expected to increase by more than 8 percent by 2030.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • Hawaii Elementary School Breaks Ground on New Classroom Building

    Kealakehe Elementary School in Kailua, Hawaii, recently began construction on a new, $16-million classroom building for its campus, according to a news release. The 13,000-square-foot building will stand two stories and connect the existing upper and lower campuses.

  • California K–12 District Finishes Renovations on Multi-Sport Stadium

    The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) in Alameda, Calif., recently announced the completion of a renovation project on the Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School stadium, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Bothman Construction on the facility, and funding came from Bond Measure B.