Top 10 Reasons Alabama's New Immigration Law Is a Disaster for Education

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/11/alabama_top10_education.html

Center for American Progress Immigration Team. “Top 10 Reasons Alabama’s New Immigration Law Is a Disaster for Education. State’s Schools Seeing More Empty Chairs in the Classroom and Burdens on Educators.” Center for American Progress 17 November 2011.

            This article was written by the Center for American Progress Immigration Team, part of the Center for American Progress. According to their web site, the Center for American Progress is dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action and their work addresses 21^st century challenges such as energy, national security, economic growth and opportunity, immigration, education, and health care. They develop policy ideas, critique policy that stems from conservative values, challenge the media to cover issues that truly matter, and shape the national debate. It was founded in 2003 by Jon Podesta, former chief of staff for President Bill Clinton from 1998 to 2001 and has held many esteemed academic positions.  I believe the Center for American Progress is a credible source.

            This article discusses Alabama’s new immigration law and in particular, the impacts of Section 28 of this law. Under Section 28, every public elementary and secondary school in the state is required to document and report the immigration status of every student in the school. Schools are also required to report on the immigration status of every child’s parents.

            The article summarizes succinctly and with clarity what it identifies as the top 10 reasons Alabama’s new law is a disaster for education. It shows the far-reaching and devastating effects this law has on the educational, social and economic fabric of not just immigrants living in Alabama, but all citizens of the State of Alabama. While each of these reasons had its own merits, several were particularly striking: (1) The state is losing a potential pool of educated citizens; and a combination of 2 other reasons: Schools will be hurt financially – loss of enrollment as well as the cost of compliance with this unfunded mandate will cause a loss of revenues that the schools can ill afford; Alabama’s schools already face significant fiscal challenges with poor student results – state aid has declined the past few years decimating school finances. The state already ranks 33^rd out of 50 in overall pupil funding. Lack of funding affects student outcomes and poor educational achievement. For everyone.

            This article is informative and well-reasoned. Anyone with an interest in the effects of heightened immigration law and its impact on the children and families of America and Alabama in particular would appreciate the perspective it offers.