Bill to Require Students' Enrollment Regardless of Immigration Status Moves to Senate

A bill to require the state to biannually distribute a letter to school districts reminding them of the requirement to enroll resident students regardless of immigration status was approved by the Assembly on Thursday. 

The bill was co-sponsored by Hoboken Assemblyman Ruben Ramos Jr., who is also a public school teacher in Paterson. 

The bill is based on a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that held that undocumented children living in the United States could not be excluded from public elementary and secondary schools based upon their immigration status.

"These children were entitled to an appropriate public education," Ramos said. 

"We're talking about children who have no control over their immigration status, and we should want them to be enrolled in school and properly educated so they can become productive members of our society. When you think about it, this is just common sense."

Assembly members Annette Quijano from Union County and Marlene Caride also sponsored the bill. 

Under the bill, the letter must be distributed by Aug. 1 and Dec. 30 of every school year and must include information on the documentation that may be requested pursuant to state board regulations to demonstrate a student’s eligibility for enrollment in the district.

The bill will now go to the senate for further consideration.