Education and Afghan Newcomers: Keeping the Promise Webinar
The Office of English Language Acquisition in partnership with the Office for Civil Rights, the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement hosted a webinar on January 24, 2022, to support Afghan newcomers in K-12 schools. During this webinar, the presenters shared an overview of the resettlement process, information about the rights of students, and resources about funding and other supports available to the K-12 community as we work to ensure access to equitable and excellent education for Afghan newcomers.
Confronting Discrimination based on National Origin and Immigration Status
Written for families and educators, this resource offers information about students’ rights to education as well as an explanation for when and how to file a complaint if a student faces discrimination in enrolling in school or accessing educational services. Produced by the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, this resource is available in Pashto and Dari along with other languages.
Students, Immigration Status, and the Right to Public Education
This blog post by the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights provides basic information and resources to explain the rights to public education for students who are not U.S. citizens
McKinney Vento Guidance for Afghan Evacuee Students
This document outlines for state and local homeless coordinators the rights of students who are Afghan evacuees and how they can provide services for these students under McKinney-Vento.
U.S. Department of Education Dear Colleague Letter (DCL)
This letter to State Chiefs details information about federal funds and resources available to support Afghan children and their families, who have recently arrived or may be arriving soon to states and school districts across the country. Recognizing that all children in the United States have an equal right to enroll and participate in public elementary and secondary schools without regard to their or their parents’ or guardians’ immigration status, this DCL explains several sources of federal funding available to state educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs). Although the letter is specific to Afghan children and their families, the information applies to children and families arriving from other countries as well.
Title Funds to Assist Afghan Refugees in Schools
This chart describes Federal Title Funds (I, II, III, IV) and IY for programs and services that can provide support for refugee and immigrant children. These Federal funds are subject to supplement, not supplant, provisions. For guidance specific to each title program, the Spending Handbook for Title I, Part A; Title II, Part A; Title III, Part A, and Title IV, Part A is an excellent resource.
Afghan Refugee School Impact: Support to Schools Initiative: Issued by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, this policy letter announces the Afghan Refugee School Impact Support to Schools (ARSI S2S) initiative. Like ARSI, ARSI S2S provides states funding for services that lead to the effective integration and education of eligible Afghan children and youth. However, given that ARSI S2S differs from traditional ARSI in terms of subrecipients and some allowable services, this policy letter defines the ARSI S2S initiative and provides guidance on its eligible populations, requirements, goals and services, equity and inclusion considerations, and reporting and monitoring requirements.