Alabama's school superintendent is telling all Alabama public school systems to start using a new student enrollment process that makes clear a Social Security number or birth certificate is not necessary for enrollment.
Superintendent Tommy Bice sent out a standardized enrollment form after the Southern Poverty Law Center complained that more than 70 percent of Alabama's school systems were using enrollment practices that violated federal prohibitions against denying or discouraging the enrollment of immigrant children. Many of the previous forms required a Social Security number or birth certificate.
Southern Poverty Law Center attorney Jay Singh commended Bice for taking action to ensure that all children have access to Alabama's public schools regardless of immigration status or birthplace.