The Hechinger Report covers one topic: education. Sign up for our newsletters to have stories delivered to your inbox. Consider becoming a member to support our nonprofit journalism.

In 1977, Texas passed a law that ended state funding for the education of undocumented children. Schools were allowed to charge those children tuition or kick them out of school. In Tyler, Texas, schools decided to charge $1,000 per child. Four immigrant families sued the school district and in 1982, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in their favor. Since then, it’s been U.S. law that public schools must offer free education for undocumented children.

Website for Educate
This story also appeared in Educate

This week’s episode of Educate, a collaboration between American Public Media and The Hechinger Report, explores education for undocumented students with producer Catherine Winter, who is reporting a documentary on the topic. The episode also dives into Trump’s education budget proposal with Hechinger reporter Nichole Dobo.

Since you made it to the bottom of this article, we have a small favor to ask. 

If you believe stories like the one you just finished matter, please consider pitching in what you can. This effort helps ensure our reporting and resources stay free and accessible to everyone—teachers, parents, policymakers—invested in the future of education.

Thank you. 
Liz Willen
Editor in chief

Creative Commons License

Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.