The current administration and the Department of Homeland security have proposed changes to the rule called "Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds." For educators, the group that the Public Charge policy and the proposed changes to that policy most closely impacts is students in immigrant families.
Those immigrant families that desire to apply for a change in immigration status (a green card), because of a fear of being denied a green card due to a Public Charge determination, may refuse to enroll their children in free and reduced price meals programs, Migrant Education Programs, Title I Programs, English Learner and Bilingual Programs and other educational programs. To help provide some clarification on the Public Charge policy, and to support districts in helping parents understand service eligibility, TransACT is hosting a webinar on April 15, 2019 with Roger Rosenthal, an expert on the issue of "Public Charge."
According to U.S. Immigration Officials, “Public Charge” refers to “a person who is considered primarily dependent on the government for subsistence.” Despite requiring all government documents to be written in plain language, the matter of public charge continues to be difficult to understand due to countless layers of complexity.
Mr. Rosenthal has followed the policy surrounding “Public Charge” for two decades and is widely known for explaining complex legal concepts in a manner that is easily understood by non-lawyers.
After attending the April 15, 2019 webinar, attendees will understand:
- What "Public Charge" is
- Who "Public Charge" is relevant to
- How to explain "Public Charge" to parents and families
- The lack of impact that "Public Charge" for children's enrollment in school and school programs
For more information about how TransACT Parent Notices helps your district meet Civil Rights and ESSA requirements for parent and family engagement, request more information here.
