Alabama State Superintendent releases statement regarding ICE and federal funding
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey released a statement Thursday regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and federal funding.
Protests supporting immigrant community underway in Albertville
His statement reads as the following:
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Many local education leaders have inquired about how possible actions to locate and detain certain illegal alien individuals might affect Alabama schools. First and foremost, to our knowledge, none of our schools have experienced any disruptions whatsoever on the part of federal or state law enforcement related to this issue. We (ALSDE) remain in constant contact with law enforcement agencies and will notify local superintendents should any new guidance or directives be issued by law enforcement.
For now, schools should carry on with normal activities.
Parents should be encouraged to send children to school, ever mindful of the importance of school attendance on academic and social development.
Schools should follow enrollment and attendance policies currently in place, as nothing has changed.
As always, If anyone shows up to your office or a school, purporting to be a law enforcement agent, verify identity before admitting them to campus. Nevertheless, after verifying identity, badged law enforcement should always be welcomed onto our campuses. (There is some concern, albeit pure speculation, about potential mal-actors taking advantage of the confusion to attempt kidnapping or other unlawful entry)
Please communicate the importance of being at school to all students and families.
Drawdown of Federal Funds
At this time, we do not believe yesterday's memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget affects formula-driven programs like Title I and IDEA. We are working closely with other state and federal agencies to secure any funds necessary to continue normal daily operations without interruption. Some discretionary grant funds will be affected.
In short, just keep having school. Let's stay focused on teaching and learning. I assure you that we are staying on top of the situation and will pass along information as we get updates. I know the flurry of activity makes some of our educators uneasy, which is natural because we all like consistency. Nevertheless, we must keep our eye on the ball and focus on teaching and learning.
Dr. Eric Mackey
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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