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Immigrant Students
In the 1990’s more immigrants entered the United States than at any other time in
our history. It is estimated that one in five children under age 18 was either born in
another country, or has parents who were born in another country. The growth of
this immigrant population has led to an increase in Limited English Proficiency
(LEP) in the schools. It is estimated that 40% of foreign born students are not
proficient in English. Many are not fully literate in their own native languages. As
few as 2.5% of American teachers have had special courses or training for teaching
children with these disadvantages.
A major challenge facing immigrant students is keeping a healthy ethnic identity,
while developing an American Identity. Undocumented immigrant children have the
same rights to education as US citizens. They cannot be treated differently based
on their immigrant status. Schools are prohibited from inquiring about their
immigrant status or from requiring Social Security numbers which may identify their
status.
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