Beyond Fear: Leading Schools in an Era of Immigration Threats

Sparking Equity

School districts around the nation are struggling to fend off threats from the Trump administration on multiple fronts. In addition to trying to protect students whose families may face a threat of deportation, they also face a looming April 24 deadline to certify that they have eliminated all so-called diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and numerous other programs Trump says violate a 2023 Supreme Court ruling banning affirmative action in college admissions.

Los Angeles Unified and the Denver Public Schools are two districts that have already come under extraordinary pressures on these fronts. Listen to this powerful interview led by USC Rossier School of Education Dean Pedro Noguera with Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, who himself came to the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant, and Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero. They warn that should the Trump administration cut federal funds to their districts, it would have a devastating impact on their neediest and most at-risk students.

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Brought to you by the Advancing Education Success Initiative -- Coby McDonald, Producer; Louis Freedberg, Executive Producer and Correspondent

Chapters

1. Beyond Fear: Leading Schools in an Era of Immigration Threats (00:00:00)

2. Welcome and Immigration Pressures (00:00:04)

3. Introduction of School Leaders (00:01:35)

4. Homeland Security Agents at LA Schools (00:02:25)

5. Denver's Legal Battle Against Trump (00:11:23)

6. Sanctuary Districts and Safe Spaces (00:15:44)

7. Federal Funding Threats and DEI (00:17:26)

8. Superintendents' Candid Reflections (00:28:26)

9. Closing Thoughts and Impacts (00:31:01)