Our mission is to positively impact the lives of ALL children and families.
California State PTA believes every child deserves to attend school without fear—education is a constitutional right, and schools must remain safe spaces for learning where every child can thrive. We demand immediate federal action to restore school protections, guarantee safe education access, and end immigration enforcement tactics that create fear, reduce family engagement, and harm learning environments for all children. The time for action is now—every day we delay is another day children lose access to the fear-free education that is fundamental to their development and our community’s future.
California State PTA Statement on Immigration Enforcement
In response to alarming reports of immigration agents targeting children at schools, California State PTA has issued an urgent statement calling for immediate federal action to protect educational settings. We believe schools must be safe spaces for learning where every child can thrive, not places of fear.
When immigration enforcement occurs at or near schools, particularly involving masked or unidentified agents, there are critical impacts like:
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- Decreasing attendance and parent/guardian participation across the entire school community
- Disrupting classroom learning and concentration for every student
- Reducing school funding tied to attendance, which affects resources for all children
- Creating trauma and anxiety that can spread throughout the school environment
- Undermining children’s fundamental trust in the safety and security of their learning spaces
Read the full California State PTA Statement on Immigration Enforcement in Schools.
Guide for Local PTA Leaders
NEW (September 2025): California State PTA’s guidance document for local PTAs responding to immigration enforcement in or near schools. This essential resource covers everything from collaboration guidelines to ready-to-use statement templates.
Complete Resource Includes:
- Collaboration Guidelines: How to work with school districts and coordinate messaging
- 4 Ready-to-Use Statement Templates: Pre-written statements for different situations
- Communication Process: Step-by-step guidance for PTA statements and social media
- Resources and Information: California and federal protections, know-your-rights materials
- Multi-Language Resources: Materials in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Vietnamese
- Current Legislation: 2025 proposed bills and federal advocacy opportunities
- Do’s and Don’ts: Clear guidance on PTA authority and limitations
Spanish version of the September 2025 California State PTA Advice: Immigration Enforcement Near Schools will be available soon.
Take Action: Contact Congress Now
National PTA and California State PTA are calling on the federal government to immediately restore protections for educational settings. Your elected representatives need to hear from constituents who believe schools must remain safe spaces for learning. The time for action is now. Every day we delay is another day children lose access to the fear-free education fundamental to their development and our country’s future.
Join us to Demand that Congress:
- Immediately restore protections for schools, pickup/drop-off zones, and school bus stops
- Guarantee safe access to education without fear of enforcement consequences
- Protect student confidentiality and prohibit sharing educational records
- Require proper identification and transparency from law enforcement near schools
- End enforcement actions that create fear and trauma affecting all students
Spread the word – share this handout with your community – any constituents (not just PTA members) can use this link to contact their federal representatives today!