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  2. Immigrant and Refugee Family Information

Immigrant and Refugee Family Information

IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FAMILY INFORMATION

Groveport Madison School District is proud of the welcoming and inviting environment that has been created in our area over the past several years. We embrace our diversity and the many peoples and nations that have become part of the fabric of the community as a whole.

We are committed to supporting, educating, and keeping safe all of our students, regardless of where they came from or how they got here. Our schools and offices are places where children and employees should feel safe, supported, affirmed, and appreciated – regardless of sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, ancestry, familial status, military status, or national origin.

Please note the following agencies and community resources that are available to assist families with questions or concerns regarding the president’s executive orders impacting immigration, refugees and foreign travel.
 

City of Columbus - New American Initiative

Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS)

Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals 

Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services

US Together Refugee and Immigrant Family Services 

Bhutanese Nepali Community of Columbus

Frequently Asked Questions

Please note the following answers to some of the questions that have become prevalent across our community and the nation.

  • Answer:

    None! Children have a constitutional right to have equal access to education regardless of their immigration status or their parents’ status. That right cannot be taken away by the president or the state or federal legislatures.

  • Answer:

    No. Public school districts have an obligation to enroll students regardless of their immigration status and without discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin.

  • Answer:

    As mentioned above, we do not ask for students’ immigration status when they enroll. However, if we became aware of a student’s lack of immigration status, we would not share that information with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

  • Answer:

    Our Board of Education has very clear policies in place that mandate no discrimination or harassment of our students or employees on the base of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, and many other protected classes.

  • Answer:

    Please report the behavior immediately to a supervisor, school leader or to the superintendent. Complaints and concerns can be filed using the forms and procedures in our Board of Education Policies. We take these complaints very seriously in order to assure that our schools continue to be safe spaces.

  • Answer:

    Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is based on an order by the president. If you are a recipient of DACA, consider reaching out to an immigration attorney in order to determine if you have access to a better form of immigration status.

  • Answer:

    Only immigration attorneys can provide you with accurate advice about immigration status and how you can pursue any legal rights you might have.