Resource Guide: Supporting Undocumented Youth, A Guide for Success in Secondary and Postsecondary Settings

Only 54 percent of undocumented youth have a high school diploma compared to 82 percent of their American-born counterparts. In the Department of Education’s Resource Guide: Supporting Undocumented Youth, the agency outlines strategies that educators can utilize to address the educational challenges of undocumented students at the secondary and post-secondary level. The Guide also presents case studies showing how these strategies have been employed in real-life situations, and provides extensive information on national and state policies affecting the educational opportunities of undocumented youth, including charts detailing state “tuition equity” laws and public and private scholarships available to undocumented youth. Undocumented youth face many stressors such as fear of deportation and concerns about the availability of financial aid for college study. One strategy secondary-level educators can implement to alleviate those stressors is to create a supportive environment that discourages stigmatization of undocumented students and raises awareness of their unique situation. The guide discusses the importance of providing undocumented youth with greater access to information about financial aid and immigration policies. In a Chicago case study, a training program was developed to educate counselors on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival policies, Illinois tuition laws, and college saving and scholarship programs. This guide is a vital resource for educators looking to address the barriers to secondary education faced by undocumented youth.

Download it here or view it online.