On Tuesday, February 11, 2025 the Washington Teachers Union Representative Assembly adopted our resolution that affirms our support for providing safe schools for all of our students.
The resolution demands that the Mayor and DCPS Chancellor provide clear guidance on how schools comply with the DC Office of the Attorney General's Guidance on Immigration Enforcement in Our Schools.
Link to the full guidance here: https://oag.dc.gov/release/oag-guidance-immigration-enforcement-dc-schools
The Resolution denounces the Mayor and DCPS Chancellor's silence regarding how schools will fulfill their obligation to our immigrant students and their education. This silence has led to a complete lack of guidance for our school leaders--some of whom have, in turn, tried to prevent their staff from communicating support to our families. Without explicit support, educators are left uncertain about how to ensure their schools remain safe and welcoming spaces for all students, and many feel that their livelihoods may be threatened if they follow the OAG’s guidance without clear backing from DCPS leadership. Most important, this silence has left many families feeling scared to send their kids to school, depriving them of their full right to a public education. (See full text of the resolution below)
Despite many attempts from a diverse coalition across DC to push the Mayor and Chancellor to provide clear guidance to our schools, the silence continues.
It is time to take action
Starting at 5PM Wednesday, February 19th we call on our school communities and allies to join us outside the DC State Board of Education Public Meeting. We will raise awareness and protest against the harm the Mayor's continued silence is doing to our school communities. We will then attend the meeting and put our demands for clear guidance on the record for the DCSBOE.
You can also submit a written statement to sboe@dc.gov
Check out our sign ideas:
DCPS: Protect, Support, Educate ALL Students! | Mayor Bowser & Chancellor Ferebee: Where’s the Plan? |
Clear Guidance Now – Our Students Can’t Wait! | Bowser & Ferebee: The Silence is Loud, But We Are Louder! |
Bowser & Ferebee: Your Silence Speaks Volumes. Do Something! | Make your own! |
Full Text of the Resolution
WTU Supports Newcomers, Asylum Seekers And Refugees
(Adapted from AFT 2024 Resolution & Defend DC’s Letter to the Mayor)
WHEREAS, the Washington Teachers Union (WTU) recognizes the unique challenges faced by newcomer, asylum seeker and refugee students, teachers and their families in our schools, and WTU members have a proud history of welcoming students from vastly different backgrounds for generations to our public schools; schools are indeed a place of great pluralism and diversity; and
WHEREAS, we have a responsibility to all students that they have access to a high-quality public education that is safe, inclusive and supportive; and
WHEREAS, in Plyler v. Doe, the Supreme Court held that all students in the United States have a Constitutional right to a free public education, regardless of immigration status; and
WHEREAS, immigrant families are staying home from school - not only those who are undocumented but all those who fear they, their families and friends will get caught in the crossfire of ICE raids resulting in decreases in attendance; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor, DC Council, DC State Board of Education, OSSE, the Deputy Mayor for Education and DC Public School leadership’s silence on supporting our immigrant students has contributed to a culture of fear for our students and families that is leading them to stop attending school and has contributed to inconsistent messaging and support from school administration as to what educators can do to best support all our students.
RESOLVED, the WTU demands that the Mayor and DCPS send clear guidance to all school based leadership regarding how to uphold and enact the DC Office of Attorney General’s newly released guidance; and be it further
RESOLVED, The WTU will assist educators in fulfilling the DC OAG’s guidance by helping them in distributing Know Your Rights Cards, summarized copies of the DC OAG’s guidance, creation of in school rapid-response teams for legal support service options and opportunities for Know Your Rights Trainings put on by community based groups and any other method that fits within the DC OAG’s guidance; and be it further
RESOLVED, The WTU will continue to pressure the Mayor and all those in charge of our public schools until they issue clearer guidance and protections for all our students in line with our status as a Sanctuary City; and be it further
RESOLVED, The WTU will continue to support all educators with public statements, FAQs, action guides, contacts in the union designated to support and answer questions on upholding the OAG's guidance, and legal support as educators support their students.