Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Amie R. Carter and all five trustees on the Sonoma County Board of Education have issued the following joint statement to Sonoma County in support of immigrant families, the LGBTQ+ community, and other protected groups. This statement affirming public schools’ responsibilities to these groups comes in response to announcements, statements, and memos in Washington, D.C., that, while upsetting to many in our community, do not carry the effect of law and frequently contradict existing laws or policies in the U.S. and California.

Dear Sonoma County,   

We express our universal support for Sonoma County’s students and families. As public servants, we promise to uphold our dynamic region’s diversity as a strength to be celebrated and protected, rather than assimilated, muted, or homogenized. Our commitment is firm, regardless of immigration status, gender identity, or political beliefs.

We write this as executive actions and announcements from Washington, D.C., over the past several weeks have created considerable unease, particularly among immigrant and LGBTQ+ families. Recent executive orders suggest a plan to federalize the way in which important subjects like history are taught in our classroom, contradicting state law and potentially minimizing the contributions of historically underrepresented and marginalized populations.

We wish to emphasize our commitment to protecting immigrants, people who identify as LGBTQ+, and students and families of color. We strive for our schools to be welcoming, safe places that reflect the diverse voices and stories that make America and California great. We are steadfast in this commitment because it is both the right thing to do and the literal law of our land. The Supreme Court in Plyler vs. Doe established that all children, regardless of citizenship, have the right to a free, public education. California education code says that all students have a right to a public school environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying, violence, and intimidation. Our great state also requires our lessons to reflect the diversity, contributions, and pupil demographics of our communities.

We have deep appreciation for the trust our community places in the education system. We are grateful as well for the staff, volunteers, and community members who have supported public schools through Sonoma County’s natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, and funding challenges prompted by declining enrollment. The past several years have not been easy, but we are resolute and determined.

As part of our commitment to the public we serve, we wish to be clear how the county office of education is responding to recent developments, particularly those relating to immigration and protections for LGBTQ+ students and families. In these areas, there is considerable conflict between federal and state law. Know that SCOE recognizes and advises local public schools of the following:

• The California legislature has established into law broad authority for school site administrators to minimize disruptions to learning and tightly constrain outside access to students. 
• Our schools should diligently uphold California Education Code and laws regarding immigration to ensure the well-being of our students, staff, and families.
• If an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer visits a school, they should be treated like any other visitor. They should not be allowed on campus without a signed judicial warrant or a claim of “exigent circumstances,” loosely defined as an emergency situation requiring immediate action.
• If an immigration officer requests student information, school staff should work with legal counsel to avoid disclosure, except when required by a judicial warrant.
• School staff should not collect or maintain information about students’ or families’ citizenship status, except as required to administer a state or federally supported educational program.
• Likewise, our state has codified a number of protections for students who identify as LGBTQ+, and specifically for our trans students. For example, the Safe Place to Learn Act, AB 827, mandates that age-appropriate, medically accurate information about sexual orientation and gender identity be taught in our schools. And Assembly Bill 1266 allows transgender students to use restrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity.
• California education code is also clear about the need for a curriculum that centers, reflects, and celebrates our communities’ diversity. Research shows that students are much more engaged with lessons when they reflect their own perspectives and experiences. Our commitment to equitable, inclusive instructive practices is grounded in research, education code, and the law.

As public servants deeply invested in education, we know all students thrive in learning environments where every student feels safe and supported. Nothing is more important to us than our shared commitment to stand with our community and come to common sense solutions that keep children at the center of our decisions. Together, we pledge to celebrate our differences and to leverage them in the creation of learning environments where all students can thrive and all perspectives are respected.

In support of all Sonoma County students,

Amie R. Carter, Ed.D.
Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools

Gina Cuclis
President, Sonoma County Board of Education, Area 1

Peter Kostas,
Sonoma County Board of Education, Area 2

Mary Watts,
Sonoma County Board of Education, Area 3

Steven D. Herrington, Ph.D.
Sonoma County Board of Education, Area 4

Herman G. Hernandez
Sonoma County Board of Education, Area 5