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.
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.