The Impact of Immigration Policy on Education Reform

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of how current immigration policy affects educators and their efforts to educate in schools serving immigrant families. The focus was on those factors that play a critical role in meeting the needs of immigrant students including access to schools and school programs; assessment and placement; differentiated curricula; school climate; availability of support services and community involvement. The analysis suggests that immigration policy affects education by its facilitation of a massive increase in school enrollment of immigrant students whose presence is a major stimulus for school restructuring and curricular reform. Furthermore, their level of education will strongly affect the quality of the future labor force and the demand for public services. This indicates that educational leaders must focus on reform efforts that realize, at the minimum, high school graduation and college attendance. Moreover, the public must advocate reforms that encourage naturalization and expedite English proficiency for adult immigrants already living and working in all regions of the nation.