H.R. 8369: Keep Immigration Enforcement Out of Schools Act

This bill, known as the "Keep Immigration Enforcement Out of Schools Act" or "No ICE in Schools Act," aims to establish restrictions on educational agencies and institutions regarding the release of student information for immigration enforcement purposes. Here’s a breakdown of its key components:

Purpose of the Bill

The main objective of this legislation is to prohibit schools and educational institutions that receive federal education funds from disclosing education records or other personal information about students if such information could be used for immigration enforcement actions. This approach seeks to protect the privacy of students and encourage a safe educational environment.

Prohibition on Disclosure of Student Information

The bill specifically amends Section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act. It includes several important stipulations:

• No Federal Funds: Schools or educational institutions that have a policy of releasing education records or student information to immigration enforcement agencies would not be eligible for federal funding.
• Types of Information Covered: The types of information that cannot be disclosed include, but are not limited to:
  • Education records
  • Personally identifiable information
  • Directory information related to students
• Parental Consent Requirement: In cases where information is to be disclosed for any purpose, it can only occur if there is written consent from the student’s parents. This consent must specify:
  • The records or information to be released
  • The reason for the release
  • The recipient of the information
  • A requirement to provide a copy of the records or information to the parents and student if requested

Impact on Educational Institutions

This bill would introduce significant changes for educational institutions at various levels (from elementary to higher education) regarding how they handle student records and interactions with immigration authorities. Institutions must ensure compliance to continue receiving federal funding, thereby potentially changing current practices related to student confidentiality and information sharing.

Implementation and Enforcement

The effectiveness and enforcement of this bill would rely on regulatory oversight to ensure educational agencies adhere to these new requirements. Any institutions identified as violating these provisions may face a loss of federal education funds, which could have significant operational and financial implications.

Relevant Companies

None found