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Californians Together

Championing the Success of English Learners

Immigrant/ Refugee Students

New Immigrant Student Resource Hub is Live: InformedImmigrant.org

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Informed Immigrant Educator Corner

Californians Together is pleased to announce the relaunch of the Informed Immigrant website. We have partnered with Informed Immigrant to create an “Educator’s Corner” to curate and share resources for educators including:

    • Classroom tools
    • Policies and protocol
    • Advice for schools to share immigration-related resources with families
    • College access and scholarships
    • Nationwide directory of legal aid

Californians Together will be partnering on-going to ensure that new resources are added and highlighted on the InformedImmigrant.com website

Support for Immigrant and Refugee Students "Trainer of Trainers" Workshop

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In response to the voices of teachers concerned about the stress and tensions that their students have expressed about their family members' immigration status, Californians Together is offering a one-day "Trainer of Trainers"  Workshop.

The training includes:

  • Grade-span (K-2, 3-5, 6-12) classroom lesson modules addressing the social, emotional and educational needs of students worried about immigration status of their families
  • Interactive student-teacher scenarios
  • Guide to create safe and welcoming schools
  • Up-to-date legal advice
  • Lunch, training materials & 3 children's books

Targeted for:
District and county professional development staff, teacher leaders, English learner specialists and coordinators, Title I and Title III administrators and specialists, leadership teams from the district, county or school site.

August 7 at San Diego COE Registration

September 20 at Monterey COE Registration

September 24 at Kern COE Registration

October 3 at Tulare COE

October 17 at San Bernardino/Riverside COE Registration

October 24 at Butte COE

November 9 at Sacramento COE

 

For more information, please contact Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez:

Workshop: Beyond Teaching English: Supporting High School Completion by Immigrant and Refugee Students

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Beyond Teaching English:
Supporting High School Completion by Immigrant and Refugee Students

January 17, 2018
9 am – 3 pm

California Community Foundation
Joan Palevsky Center
Los Angeles, CA

Californians Together invites you to attend a convening of school districts and local and statewide education community partners to highlight the results of the report, “Beyond Teaching English: Supporting High School Completion by Immigrant and Refugee Students,” by Julie Sugarman of the Migration Policy Institute. [Read more…] about Workshop: Beyond Teaching English: Supporting High School Completion by Immigrant and Refugee Students

On DACA We Stand Together

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ON DACA WE STAND TOGETHER

Yesterday’s announcement from President Trump putting an end to the DACA program reminds us why we are Californians Together.  It reminds us not just in California, but across the country, why we stand together, why we work together and why we make progress together.

We at Californians Together have heard from teachers and parents about the stress, fears and tension our students are experiencing.  For many of our families DACA young adults are models for their younger siblings and have brought some stability to their family.

Today, we wanted to start by sharing some of the words that we have heard from others, reminding us of what is at stake and why we must stand together – as some have pointed out, on the right side of history.

Former President Obama reminds us that “This is about basic decency. This is about whether we are a people who kick hopeful young strivers out of America, or whether we treat them the way we’d want our own kids to be treated. It’s about who we are as a people – and who we want to be.“ 

California Senator Kamala Harris spoke strongly yesterday – “We’ve got to stop playing politics with these kids!” She reminded us: “Let’s be clear about the dynamic in which we are discussing this.  I’ve met with senior members of this administration, who, when asked, had to confess they’d never met a Dreamer. How can you form such strong opinions about people you’ve never met, people you don’t know, and then allow this population to be villified.  It’s not only wrong, it’s irresponsible.“

IT’S TIME TO ACT!

So many organizations are standing together urging Congress to act. Here are three important bills that will need our support.  Please take a few minutes to call or write your representatives in Congress or Senators Dianne Feinstein (www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me or (202) 224-3841) or Senator Kamala Harris (ww.harris.senate.gov/content/contact-senator or (202) 224-3553).

  • The DREAM Act, to provide a path to citizenship for young immigrants who have graduated from high school, are pursuing higher education, or serving in the military.  You can use these talking points.
  • The BRIDGE Act, would provide employment authorization and protection from deportation for individuals who currently hold and are eligible for DACA.  You can use these talking points.
  • The American Hope Act would provide DACA students as well as other eligible young undocumented immigrants who were brought to America as children, with a permanent, legislative solution that allows them to stay legally in the United States. You can find talking points here.

IMPORTANT RESOURCES

Make sure DACA students and their families are well informed in these difficult times. Here are resources that we recommend:

Californians Together and 120 Organizations Promise to Fight for Safe and Secure Schools

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OVER 120 ORGANIZATIONS URGE ALL CALIFORNIA K-12 SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES TO BE DESIGNATED AS SANCTUARY SCHOOLS AND CAMPUSES

Californians Together Calls for Safe, Inclusive, and Equitable Learning Environments for All Students In Response to Fears of Deportation and Hate Attacks Since the Election

LOS ANGELES – Californians Together with more than 120 community, education, health, faith, labor, student, and parent organizations in California, has released an open letter (click on link below) calling on California’s educational leaders to address the growing fear around deportation and the troubling spike in hate crimes, incidents, and bullying in K-12 schools and on college campuses since the election of Donald Trump. Coordinated by the College for All Coalition, the open letter calls for safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environments for California students, especially those who are most vulnerable. [Read more…] about Californians Together and 120 Organizations Promise to Fight for Safe and Secure Schools

Post Election: Resources and Actions to Support Safe & Secure Schools

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Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Californians Together has as its mission to ensure that all children and specifically English Learners in our State have full access to a high quality 21st century education.

The recent election has put our goal in jeopardy for students and their families who are here undocumented. We encourage everyone to join us to ensure that students and their families are supported and protected so that they can receive a quality education and live without fear.

Many teachers, parents, administrators, and others have contacted us via emails and phone. They express fear about the threat of deportation for their students and their families. Teachers have described students crying, and others being so anxious they can’t concentrate. They have reported heightened harassment of student groups targeted in political rhetoric. They want to know what to do to provide support for a safe and secure school and community.

As Californians Together, we are equally concerned that the language leading up to the election, the continued talk about deportation, and the uncertainty our families feel has created a very oppressive environment across our state and nation.

As an initial effort to provide resources for teachers, schools, and parents, we have reached out to others in the immigrant rights community to provide concrete suggestions, advice and referrals for specific problems.

ACTIONS AND INFORMATION FOR EDUCATORS

Schools Boards: Pass resolutions that the district will not allow federal Immigration and Control Enforcement (ICE) to enter school campuses or that the district will not provide student data. Resolutions should be communicated widely to the community. Los Angeles and San Francisco have resolutions in place.

Districts: Compile and provide resource information for undocumented and mixed status families about organizations and supports that can provide legal and other help (see attached).

Teachers and counselors: Share information about board resolutions and about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) with students who are concerned about what DACA status may mean for them moving forward (see links below). Counsel students in need.

National Immigrant Law Center: Know your Rights
Immigrants Rights Under a Trump Presidency – available in English and Spanish
Schools: Establish procedures/protocols for student safety if a student is in school when a parent or guardian is detained, the emergency contact cannot be reached, and there is no one to either get the child home or to school. Communicate the procedures/protocols to children and families so they know the plan and that school personnel have a way to care for the children.

All district employees, front office staff, administrators, etc.: Remind staff of Plyler v. Doe rights that ensure children’s right to attend school regardless of immigration status, and forbids schools from asking about immigration status of children or families.

All school administrators and staff: Reinforce anti-bullying program practices to staff and students. Intervene immediately in instances of harassment.

Links to support and suggestions for educators:

Post-Election: Recommendations for school Administrators, Educators, Counselors, and Undocumented Students
Election Processing Circle Plan: Community building and support allowing for conversation and reflection.
I am not Afraid Curriculum for all Educators and Organizers, for our Children (A Response to the US Presidential Election and Donald Trump)

Anti-Defamation League: Current Events in the Classroom – Let’s Talk about the Presidential Election (see attached lesson plan)

Anti-Defamation League: Talking with Children After the Election

Anti-Bias Leaders in Early Childhood Education: Post Election – What do we say to the children?

We are and will continue to listen to the voices of our students and their parents and to make sure that our schools and communities are safe and free from bias, discrimination, and deportations. Please stand with us in support of the children. Feel free to share these resources far and wide, and if you have any others to add, email them to Shelly Spiegel-Coleman, Executive Director,

Hoping and working for peace,

The Californians Together Executive Board

https://www.ciclt.net/ul/calto/ORGANIZATIONSTOKNOWABOUTANDSUPPORT.pdf

https://www.ciclt.net/ul/calto/RESOURCESTOKNOWABOUTFORUNDOCUMENTEDCOMMUNITIES.pdf

https://www.ciclt.net/ul/calto/let-s-talk-about-the-presidential-election.pdf