YUHSD, Crane altering enrollment policies
ACLU of Arizona had publicly demanded changes earlier in year
Since making demands for changes in Yuma Union High School District’s enrollment policies in April, the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona has not been in contact with YUHSD administrators, according to Superintendent Gina Thompson.
And now, months after the issue of enrollment was brought to the fore, both YUHSD and Crane School District are altering their enrollment policies per the recommendations of the Arizona School Board Association.
Thompson describes the changes as a “refinement” of what was previously in place. YUHSD’s board voted to adopt them during a special meeting Tuesday.
Changes to Crane’s enrollment policies that their board is set to adopt include emphasizing that homeless students do not need to provide proof of residency, and adding the Arizona Address Confidentiality Program authorization card — meant to help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking — as a valid method to prove residency for enrollment.
In April the Arizona Department of Education issued changes to their residency guidelines, making clear that “inquiring into students’ citizenship or immigration status, or that of their parents or guardians, is not relevant to establishing residency within the district.”
Among the issues that the ACLU of Arizona and their legal director, Kathleen Brody, brought up in their letter were the requirement of state-issued ID for enrollment, the requirement that students live with their parent or guardian and what they felt were violations of the McKinney-Vento Act, sections of which are meant to protect homeless students.
The letter focused on San Luis High School, and at the time, a representative from the ACLU stated that
the organization had only confirmed that the policies in question were in place there.
“San Luis High School’s state-issued ID policy chills and prevents school enrollment in the district,” read the letter. “Additionally, the requirement that a student must reside with a parent or legal guardian in order to attend school has no basis in Arizona law and violates the student’s fundamental right to an education under the Arizona Constitution.”
In a response letter, YUHSD’s legal counsel rebutted the ACLU of Arizona’s assertions point-bypoint, denying that the district maintained “unlawful policies.” They also denied that the district had violated the McKinney-Vento Act.
At the time of the letter, Thompson said that the district would “revisit our practices and make it right.”
Thompson also stated that the district was trying to abide by Arizona Residency guidelines. The guidelines state that, except in certain unique circumstances, only residents of Arizona may attend school tuition-free in the state.
If the district was found to be in violation of this, according to Thompson, they could face sanctions that would have a large impact on their finances.
After months went by without communication between the two parties, the ACLU of Arizona’s focus on San Luis High School and the publication of their demands in state-wide media outlets still irritates some at YUHSD.
Thompson said that she took “great offense” to the implication that the district treats San Luis High School differently.
“We so focus on equity, regardless,” she said. “We want every student and every family to have the most equitable opportunity possible, and so I found it very offensive”
YUHSD’s Board President Phil Townsend emphasized that he and other board members adopt policy on a “districtwide” level.
As for the media attention garnered by the letter, Townsend said that he was disappointed that it wasn’t handled with “honesty and directness.”