A recent survey from the National School Choice Awareness Foundation has found that nearly one in five Hispanic parents have skipped or avoided a school event in the past year because of immigration concerns. The survey also found that 57% of Hispanic parents say the current immigration policy environment is at least a somewhat concerning factor in their family's daily life. Fourteen percent have kept their child home from school, and 11% have avoided contacting a teacher or school staff member.
These findings highlight a growing challenge for educators and policymakers: when fear influences whether a parent attends a school event, talks to a teacher, or sends a child to class, it becomes an education issue. As Krissia Campos Spivey, senior director of Conoce tus Opciones Escolares, writes, "When fear begins to influence whether a parent attends a school event, talks to a teacher, or sends a child to class, it becomes an education issue."
The impact extends beyond individual families. Hispanic students make up almost three in 10 public school students in the United States, according to federal education data, and roughly one in four American children under eighteen are Latino, a share that has been growing for years. This means that the education of Latino children is not a side issue but a central part of the future of the country's classrooms, workforce, and communities.
Despite these concerns, many parents are unaware of their children's rights. The survey found that 41% of parents want clear information about their children's right to a public education, regardless of immigration status. That right was established by the Supreme Court in Plyler v. Doe, which ruled that states cannot deny a free public education to a child because of immigration status. However, this protection is only meaningful if families know about it.
The survey also revealed that 41% of parents said immigration concerns have led them to consider, actively explore, or choose a different kind of school or learning environment for their child in the past year. For many families, these concerns are becoming part of how they think about where and how their child learns.
To address these issues, schools, districts, and community organizations can play a role by ensuring families understand their child's right to a public education in plain language and in the language they speak at home. They can also help parents understand the learning options available to them. Resources like Conoce Tus Opciones Escolares can help Spanish-speaking families explore those options and find information in their own language.
As Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized, it is an important moment to listen to what Hispanic families are telling us about their children's education and what they need to feel informed and supported. Every child deserves a school where they can grow up happy, capable, and free to build the life they choose.
