The Southern Poverty Law Center has warned 96 Alabama school systems that they are violating federal guidelines by discouraging enrollment based on immigration status.
The group sent a letter to state schools Superintendent Tommy Bice. SPLC attorney Jay Singh said Thursday that all children have a right to attend public schools regardless of immigration status.
The letter asks Bice to ensure that all schools comply with federal mandates by the start of the 2014-15 school year.
Bice earlier notified local superintendents that a student can't be denied admission because of lack of a Social Security number, birth certificate or parent's driver's license. The letter says that those documents are voluntary, and not mandatory for school admission.
School officials didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.