Oregon schools must give staff guidance on immigration enforcement requests

School districts, education service districts, and public charter schools must give employees the Attorney General’s model policies on immigration enforcement. The employee policy requirement applies to school districts, education service districts, and public charter schools. The policies are intended to limit immigration enforcement at public facilities as far as state and federal law allow. School policies must include a way to check warrants or court orders, superintendent review of responses, and recommendations for how employees should respond. The Act takes effect July 1, 2026.

A school district must admit certain eligible students receiving special education through age 20, and may admit some other eligible students through age 20. These provisions cover otherwise eligible students who have not turned 21 before the school year begins. Students receiving special education must not yet have a high school diploma, or must have received a modified diploma, extended diploma, or certificate of attendance. A district may admit an otherwise eligible student who is not receiving special education if the student needs more education to earn a diploma or modified diploma. A covered student remains eligible for the rest of the school year if their 21st birthday falls during that year.

Covered education programs must not discriminate, and the State Board of Education and Higher Education Coordinating Commission must adopt rules to support that protection. The protections cover public elementary, secondary, community college, and higher education programs, services, schools, and interschool activities that receive money approved by the Legislature. Discrimination includes unfair differences in treatment based on listed traits, including race, disability, and immigration or citizenship status. The text provides exceptions for certain dress codes and policies, federal immigration or citizenship requirements, and international program fees. The Act takes effect July 1, 2026.

Public schools and school districts must share certain student information during a health or safety emergency when it is needed to protect someone; federal immigration authorities are not included as law enforcement. These provisions concern student education records held by public schools and school districts. Emergency disclosures must be allowed by federal student privacy law and necessary to protect the student or another person. The text also permits certain disclosures to courts and state or local juvenile justice agencies before a juvenile court decision; recipients must promise in writing not to share the information with most third parties. The Act takes effect July 1, 2026.