Post by Dra. Lorena Tule-Romain

There are moments when education policy stops feeling abstract and becomes deeply personal. Honored to be featured in this important Pulitzer Center story examining the growing concerns around the “school-to-deportation pipeline” in Texas and the ways school discipline policies can intersect with immigration enforcement fears for immigrant students and families. ImmSchools Schools should be places of protection, opportunity, and dignity, not fear. As Texas continues conversations around school discipline legislation, we must ask ourselves: What happens when exclusionary discipline intersects with anti-immigrant rhetoric and heightened enforcement climates? Research and lived experiences continue to show that punitive systems disproportionately impact immigrant, multilingual, and historically marginalized students. The solution cannot simply be harsher discipline. The solution must include belonging, restorative practices, culturally responsive leadership, mental health support, and policies that protect students rather than criminalize them. I’m grateful for the amazing research conducted by Lauren Nutall and the  Pulitzer Center for elevating these critical conversations and centering the voices of immigrant families and educators across Texas. The work continues. Our students deserve schools where they can learn without fear. ❤️https://lnkd.in/gh-tnqFE #immigration #research #policy #advocacy