The Henry County School District has settled with the Department of Justice over allegations that the district threatened to remove students who did not have Social Security numbers.
In a release late Friday, the Justice Department said the agreement resolves an investigation into the district over the claims.
“Public schools serve all children in this country, no matter where they or their parents were born,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “No one benefits when a child is kept out of the classroom. The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that all that students and their families are welcomed in school, regardless of background.”
Efforts were being made Friday to reach Henry County school officials for comment.
According to the school district’s website, 5.5 percent of Henry County’s 39,500 students are Hispanic and 2.5 percent are Asian. The latest available U.S. Census figures show Henry County has a 6 percent Hispanic population and a 3 percent Asian population.
The school district was accused of notifying parents that their children would be withdrawn from school for not providing a Social Security number. The district was also accused of failing to make enrollment procedures accessible to parents with limited proficiency in English.
The department did not say how many students were turned away because they did not have a Social Security number. It also did not say whether the requirements were specifically directed to Hispanic or Asian students.
The department cited Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 in requiring the school district to make changes to its practices.
U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said the district was taking “the steps necessary to enroll all students and communicate effectively with limited English proficient families.”
Providing a child’s Social Security number is voluntary and no child can be denied enrollment or attendance without one, Justice Department officials said. The settlement requires the district to provide information on enrollment and registration in a language the applicant can understand. The district also must train staff to make sure they understand the requirements.
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