Ann Arbor Public Schools superintendent releases statement against Trump's immigration order

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Superintendent Jeanice K. Swift has released a statement in response to President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration.  

Related: Ann Arbor mayor releases statement against Trump's immigration order

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Here is her full statement: 

In light of recent national developments, today is an important time to publicly communicate and clarify our position regarding immigrant and refugee students in the Ann Arbor Public Schools.

The AAPS remains deeply committed to supporting ALL our students and their families, regardless of national origin, religion or immigration status. We stand strong in support of our immigrant, Muslim, and refugee students and their families. Our school teams work every day to ensure that ALL children are welcomed, embraced, and valued as important members of our AAPS learning community in each of our classrooms and schools; this value and practice remains firm today.  

In the AAPS, we view diversity as our strength, and we respect and value each of our students and their families. In Ann Arbor, we are privileged to work and live in a diverse, international school environment and we know this as a gift that enriches our community. Within the AAPS, we benefit from the richness of experience and perspective, language, culture, and cognitive connections that diversity brings to learning within our classrooms, schools and across our Ann Arbor community. We know the multicultural learning experience within our classrooms better prepares all our children for the globally connected world in which they will live and work today and into the future. 

We also acknowledge that the nurture of character is central to our mission as well as our commitment to core democratic values. We partner with parents and families to develop students who will be leaders and contributors in the wider world, and respond with imagination and compassion to address our challenges, instead of being limited in their capacity by fear and isolation.

We understand that many of our children are experiencing fear as a result of recent national developments, and we will continue to reassure all within our community of our ongoing engagement and support.  As memory, emotion, and cognition are located from the same place in our being, we know that the best thinking and learning can only occur when all our children feel safe and protected.  Our school teams, teachers and principals remain ready to support our children and families who are experiencing distress.

Specifically,

• We will continue in our commitment and practice that a child’s immigration status will have no impact whatsoever on his or her education in the AAPS.

• Children have a constitutional right to equal access to education regardless of their immigration status or their parents’ status.

• The fundamental right to access public education is constitutionally protected, and cannot be taken away by the president or state or federal legislators.

• In the AAPS, we will not ask about a child’s immigration status at school. 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.

Recently, the University of Michigan and other educational organizations have articulated a similar commitment to students regarding immigration status. 

In addition, we will continue to partner and coordinate with our many excellent Ann Arbor community organizations and resources to connect additional support for our families beyond the school setting. We encourage anyone in need of assistance to reach out to your teacher, school principal or call (734) 994-2200 and we will respond with information and support.

For more detailed information, please see the AAPS Immigrant Students FAQ, and "Immigrant and Refugee Children: A Guide for Educators and School Support Staff" from Teaching Tolerance. These support documents will also be shared on our website a2schools.org.

During this time of national rhetoric that marginalizes individuals within our community, we want everyone to know that in the Ann Arbor Public Schools, we will see, stand with, and remain #A2gether in support of all our children, understanding that each of our 17,448 students brings a unique and beautiful presence to our classrooms.

We are committed to modeling and serving as that example for our students who are our greatest responsibility and our best hope. Our precious children are valued in our classrooms for who they are and we remain committed that all our children will continue to experience the safe haven of a warm, welcoming, and supportive classroom environment on each and every day at school.

Sincerely,

Jeanice K. Swift
Superintendent of Schools

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