Safe Havens: Protecting and Supporting New York State’s Immigrant Students

The report describes variability in how the 25 school districts that serve the highest numbers of immigrant students in New York State — together representing 80 percent of all immigrant students in New York — are addressing issues on-the-ground that are critical to these students and their families. By analyzing information supplied by each school district, the authors identified indications of strong practices that support students and demonstrate the community’s values of inclusivity; alarming practices that threaten student well-being; and unanswered questions about the robustness of current policies and protocols. Based on the experiences of immigrant community-based organizations, advocates, and service providers, this report then offers recommendations to strengthen supports at the state, school district, and school levels.