We, the undersigned educators, caregivers and community members of Massachusetts, strongly urge you to ensure that districts across the Commonwealth implement protocols that safeguard all learners and school staff under an increased threat posed by the presence of ICE in our state.

Districts throughout the state have inconsistent protocols, policies and commitments on this subject, which create educational inequality and gaps in student and staff safety. A student's ability to access their right to a fair and free education should not be determined by where they live.

Mandating protocols is crucial, as school safety is the foundation for maintaining a high-quality education. Without necessary protections, families are unable to take on the increasing risks of sending their children to school.

Over the past year, schools have experienced a decline in student attendance, enrollment and family participation, particularly in areas with higher immigrant populations, such as Chelsea, Boston, Framingham and Milford. According to the Boston Globe, Massachusetts public schools lost more than 15,000 students from 2024 to 2025, bringing overall enrollment to its lowest level in 30 years.

In addition to thousands of students leaving our classrooms, Massachusetts has experienced multiple students detained across the state, caregivers have been detained following drop off and pick up of their students, and students witnessing active ICE enforcement on bus routes. Schools are particularly vulnerable, as federal agents weaponize the core relationships that schools have established with our communities. As the state education agency, it is your responsibility to defend students and staff against these threats.

Schools already are mandated to develop protocols and train students and staff in the event of a direct threat. Mandating protocol development to ensure schools are prepared for all types of threats clearly aligns with existing practice.

This is an opportunity for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to work in direct collaboration with educators and impacted communities in creating a consistent statewide action plan.

Due to the uncertainty, fear, broken trust and harm caused by ICE and other federal enforcement agencies, the signatories urgently call on you to provide the policies and resources needed to keep our children, schools and communities safe. Our students' safety depends on the Board of Education (BESE) and DESE taking the following actions:

1) Require that districts partner with educators, school staff and families to implement - at a minimum - baseline protocols that recognize the direct threat of federal enforcement activities to protect:

A) Student and school staff safety in the event that federal agencies carrying out immigration enforcement, or other individuals, attempt entry into schools and/or detention of students, staff or caregivers on school property; The following are resources that a DESE model protocol could reference: ORI and AGO on immigration resources, AFT/BTU/MTA School Defense Toolkit, Boston Public Schools’ Procedural Guidance for Responding to Immigration Enforcement in Schools;

B) Students’ ability to safely travel to and from schools including school parking lots, parent pick-up and drop off, and school bus stop safety in order to access their legal entitlement to a public education;

C) A safe working environment for all staff, which includes comprehensive, appropriate and timely training for all staff on the protocols developed;

D) The rights of immigrant students and families through training on Immigration Know Your Rights, FERPA/Privacy protections and a parent/emergency contact notification protocol.

2) Ensure that all students in Massachusetts are provided their public education by:

A) Creating a clear pathway and approval system for district administration to request emergency approval for 1) virtual or hybrid learning in the event of a surge in immigration enforcement activity in the school community that makes it unsafe for students to attend school in person; and 2) waiver of the 180-day or 900/990-hour requirement should schools need to close due to a surge in immigration enforcement activity in the school community;

B) Directing districts to develop procedures to identify and provide school-based supports to address the learning and mental health needs of students impacted by immigration enforcement actions, including, but not limited to, actions resulting in the detention or deportation of a parent, guardian or other family member.

3) Provide all students and families with access to community- and school-based resources in their preferred language, to ensure their safety and well-being.

It is critical that our districts and school communities receive updated guidance in order to provide districts with the appropriate time to prepare and train staff for the 2026-2027 school year. We urge a timely response from BESE, DESE and state leadership and are prepared to partner in developing the necessary policies that ensure the safety of all of our students, families and staff in Massachusetts.