Chicago Public Schools Policy on Absences for Undocumented Students
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has implemented a policy allowing undocumented students and their families to excuse absences if they have concerns about federal immigration enforcement in their area. This policy is outlined in a document from Defending Education titled “Chicago Public Schools Attendance Coding for Safety Concerns Related to Federal Representation Activities.”
According to this document, undocumented students can be marked as “exempt” from attendance if their parents express fears regarding federal immigration authorities. The school board reaffirmed this policy in February, referring to immigration enforcement as “federal representative procedures.”
Reportedly, if a parent claims an absence is due to fear of these procedures, the school has the discretion to excuse it “out of concern for the health and safety of the student.” Parents are advised to indicate in the memo section that the absence is considered for the student’s health and safety. Notably, the policy does not require detailed explanations regarding absences and imposes no specific time limits on how long students can excuse their absences for this reason.
For an absence to be excused, it must be communicated using one of the district’s approved methods. Furthermore, if a parent is involved in any proceedings concerning federal representation, they can appoint another individual to communicate the need for an excused absence for their child.
The policy also includes a provision allowing students to excuse absences for attending “civic events.” These are defined as public events sponsored by a nonprofit or government agency, which can include artistic shows or educational gatherings that align with the sponsoring organization’s mission.
Kendall Teets, an investigative reporter at Defending Education, criticized the CPS policy, asserting that it effectively gives families an indefinite excuse to keep children out of school without any documentation. Teets argued that schools should prioritize maintaining attendance and accurate records rather than fostering truancy or avoiding collaboration with federal authorities, suggesting that such a policy diminishes both student education and respect for the law.
Recent independent studies noted that school systems received over $1.5 billion in federal taxpayer funds during the 2024 fiscal year. Meanwhile, the CPS Office of Inspector General revealed $14.5 million in “excessive” travel expenses for the 2023-2024 school year, while only 30.5% of third- to eighth-grade students demonstrated proficiency in reading and a mere 18.3% in math.
CPS representatives have not responded to requests for comment on these matters.
