FAQ: Interactions Between Law Enforcement and Students
LSR7 board policies determine how the district manages requests from law enforcement regarding students. These policies include Board Policy JFGA (Interviews with or Removal of Students) and Board Policy JO (Student Records).
Student Interviews By Law Enforcement
Can law enforcement summon a student for an interview during school operations for any reason?
No. The district will not allow law enforcement officers to interview students at school unless one of the following applies:
- The law enforcement official has presented an applicable warrant or court order authorizing the official to take custody of the student or interview the student.
- Consent for the interview is provided by the parent/guardian or the student if the student is 18 or older and is otherwise competent to consent.
- Exigent circumstances exist that school officials consider sufficient to justify the interview. Exigent circumstances are sufficient if the law enforcement officials demonstrate that delaying the interview may pose a danger to the health or safety of the student, other students, district employees or others.
Are students ever interviewed at school by law enforcement alone?
No. A principal or designee must be present during any interview taking place at school, per board policy.
In what circumstances, could a student be removed from school by law enforcement officers?
The following steps must occur in the district before a law enforcement officer or other legally authorized person is permitted to remove a student from school.
- Verify the identity of any law enforcement official.
- Verify the official's authority to take custody of the student.
- Notify the student's parents/guardians
- Require officials who are determined to have proper authority to remove the student in a manner that minimizes disruption to the school environment and for the student.
Can law enforcement enter district buildings without authorization? What about ICE?
No. Law enforcement personnel of any type may not enter non-public areas of a District building without a warrant outside of urgent situations where student and staff safety is paramount. In the case of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, personnel may only do so if a warrant is signed by a federal judge, not by an immigration office or immigration judge.
Do schools have to comply with law enforcement requests for student interviews/removal from campus immediately?
No. Our policies allow staff to seek guidance from district administration and the district’s legal counsel and take steps such as asking for identification and supporting documentation, such as a warrant or subpoena, taking time to notify parents and guardians and performing all steps necessary to minimize disruption, such as ensuring interviews are conducted in a private setting. These steps are designed to ensure the safety and rights of the student are upheld while complying with legal requirements and district policies.
Student Records
What is the district's policy on disclosing student records?
Under Board Policy JO and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), information such as a student’s address, telephone number, email address, and parents’ contact information generally cannot be disclosed unless an exception to FERPA applies.
Does a request for student records require immediate compliance?
Typically, requests of this nature do not require immediate compliance, but rather, allow the District some time to evaluate the legal basis for the request and to gather and produce the records if production is required.
Immigration Status Questions
Does the district share or collect information about families’ immigration status?
No. The district does not ask for or collect information about families’ immigration statuses.
Do all children in the United States have the right to attend public schools?
Yes, according to a 1982 United States Supreme Court ruling, all children residing in the United States have the right to attend public schools, regardless of their immigration status.
What does the law say about discrimination based on national origin?
Both state and federal laws prohibit discrimination against any person based on their national origin.
Can undocumented children be excluded from attending school in the LSR7 district?
No, undocumented children cannot be excluded from attending school in LSR7. The district does not require documentation of legal status for enrollment, as doing so would discourage their attendance and violate their rights under current laws.
Read Board Policy
LSR7 board policies determine how the district manages requests from law enforcement regarding students. These policies include Board Policy JFGA (Interviews with or Removal of Students) and Board Policy JO (Student Records).