Resource Library
Empowering School Leaders: Supporting and Protecting Vulnerable Students’ Rights
Below are resources designed to equip school leaders with tools and strategies to support immigrant, undocumented, refugee, and other vulnerable student populations. This resource library was created in February, 2025. It was most recently updated on February 13, 2025.
Immigration | School Guidance & Toolkits
School District of Philadelphia Immigration Toolkit | A guide for Philadelphia school staff on supporting immigrant and refugee students, including legal and policy information.
ACLU-PA & ELC Letter to Schools | Guidance from the ACLU-PA and Education Law Center regarding legal rights and responsibilities related to immigration enforcement in schools.
Policy for Response to Law Enforcement Activity | Esperanza’s policy on interactions with law enforcement to protect the privacy and rights of students and clients.
School-Specific Guidance Regarding Immigration Enforcement | February 2025 presentation created by Esperanza Immigration Legal Services reviewing applicable laws protecting students, school policy examples, and the requirements for a valid warrant.
Immigrant Students, Families, and Staff HPS Deck | Presentation deck for administrators on supporting immigrant students, families, and staff.
Immigration | General Guidance & Toolkits
Resources for Immigrant Families in Philadelphia | Comprehensive list of organizations and services available for immigrant families in Philadelphia.
Executive Order Response Important Links | A collection of critical links related to recent executive orders impacting immigration policy.
Know Your Rights with ICE | A comprehensive guide from the Immigrant Defense Project on what to do if confronted by ICE at home or in public.
Executive Order Response Guide | A Google Document compiling key information and links related to recent executive orders impacting immigration policy.
Nonprofit Response to Immigration Enforcement in New Jersey | Slides on legal and policy responses for nonprofits supporting immigrant communities in NJ.
Advisory for NJ Nonprofits on Immigration Enforcement | Guidance for nonprofits in New Jersey responding to increased immigration enforcement.
Chart of Executive Orders | An overview of executive orders affecting nonprofits, including policies on immigration and civic engagement.
Guidance to Nonprofits Regarding Immigration Enforcement | Comprehensive guidance for nonprofits on legal best practices in responding to immigration enforcement.
English Learner Home Language & Enrollment Trends | A report from the School District of Philadelphia analyzing English Learner enrollment trends and home language data from 2014-2023.
Immigration Raids in Chicago Begin | An article from the Chicago Tribune detailing recent immigration enforcement actions in Chicago following new federal directives.
Welcoming Schools & Emotional Well-being
Welcoming School Toolkit | Toolkit to help schools create welcoming environments for immigrant students, including sample policies and resources.
School Board Welcoming Schools Template | A template resolution of principles and policies for creating a welcoming school.
We Grieve Resource | Supportive resource for students and families dealing with grief and uncertainty due to immigration enforcement actions.
8 Essential Practices for a Happy 2025 | An Education Week article by Justin Parmenter outlining strategies for students and teachers to foster a positive learning environment.
