State to look for school immigration violations

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Schools Superintendent Tommy Bice says school officials are reviewing a letter from the Southern Poverty Law Center that complained enrollment practices by 96 Alabama school systems violate federal prohibitions against denying or discouraging enrollment based on immigration status of parents. Bice said Friday school officials will have a response and suggested resolutions to confirmed violations by the beginning of the 2014-15 school year. The SPLC had complained that in some cases, school enrollment forms require a Social Security number or a U.S. birth certificate, but don't explain that under federal law such disclosure is voluntary. SPLC attorney Jay Singh said every child, regardless of immigration status, has a right to attend school. He said the SPLC will work actively to see that local school systems comply with federal mandates.