Manteca Unified — given it exists as part of a statewide school system — will continue to follow California law regarding migrant students.

“We want all of our students to be safe and secure,” indicated District Superintendent Clark Burke.

The seasonal farm labor housing for migrant workers and their families operated by the San Joaquin County Housing Authority in French Camp is within the Manteca Unified attendance boundaries.

The migrants play a critical role in San Joaquin County’s $3.22 billion annual farm production.

San Joaquin County — if it were a free-standing state — would rank between Maryland (36th at $3.9 billion in annual ag production) and Utah (37th at $3 billion in annual ag production).

The district is one of 540  of the nearly 1,000 schools districts in the state  that educates 70,000 plus students through the California Migrant Education Program.

The program is  funded by the federal government.

In 2022, Manteca Unified officials indicated they had just over 200 children of migrant farm workers enrolled in classes at East Union High and French Camp School.

California law (Assembly Bill 49) prohibits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ACE) agents from  entering California school sites and day care centers without valid ID, a written statement of purpose, a judicial warrant, and approve from designated officials.

A second state law (Senate Bill 48), prohibits immigration enforcement activities on California school campuses without a judicial warrant. It also limits the sharing of student, family, and employee information with immigration authorities.

The district also complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

That means unless required by a court order or a judicial subpoena, students and their personal information cannot be released to anyone other than parents/guardians or their authorized representatives.

Given “migrant students” are part of a federally funded program, the federal and state governments already know who they are and where they go to school.

That is because a migrant ID is assigned and reported as required by law.

Regardless, any sort of data request beyond that would need to come through the appropriate channels.

In addition, California law prohibits school districts from:

*collecting Socia Security Numbers or any part of them.

*requiring a US birth certificate or passport for enrollment.

*collecting or inquiring about citizenship status.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com