Commitment to Maintaining Schools as Safe Havens

February 18, 2026 

Dear NECSD students, families, faculty, and staff,

New York State law guarantees every student, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, the fundamental right to a free public education. The New York State Education Department (NYSED), in collaboration with the offices of Governor Hochul and Attorney General James, reaffirmed our steadfast commitment to maintaining New York's schools as safe havens where all students are free to learn. 

Through this joint guidance, we are offering our full support in this vital mission, and no federal actions announced thus far have impacted the document in any way. As your Superintendent, I want to clarify our district’s processes regarding law enforcement agencies, which include U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and ensure our community understands the protections in place for our students. This is not a new policy for our district. Policy 1602 was initially adopted in 1987 and last revised in 2020.

This information has been circulated internally within our staff; however, we feel it’s important to be transparent with our students and families as well.

Schools as Safe Havens Our schools are protected spaces. Per New York State guidance, law enforcement officers, including federal immigration authorities, are not permitted to access a student on school property except in limited circumstances, such as an imminent safety emergency or if they present a judicial warrant signed by a judge. Administrative warrants, which are often used by immigration authorities, are not honored by the District to grant access to school facilities or student records.

If a school is visited by law enforcement officers requesting access to a student, the Superintendent’s Office should be contacted immediately, before access to students is granted, so the warrant can be reviewed by our legal counsel.

School Buses are an Extension of Our Schools It is important to note that school buses are legally considered an extension of school property. Therefore, the same safety protocols and legal protections that apply within our school buildings also apply to our school buses. Immigration authorities are not permitted to board a school bus without a signed judicial warrant. 

If a school bus is approached by a law enforcement agency requesting access to a student, a call to the Superintendent’s office should be made immediately before allowing access to deal with the effort by ICE or other law enforcement personnel to access students. This call should go through the Director of Transportation before or after regular school hours. School bus drivers are not permitted to review a judicial warrant and authorize access to students.

Our Commitment to Privacy and Access

•  No Inquiries into Status: Our staff will not ask about the immigration status of any student or family member as a condition of enrollment.
• Privacy of Records: Student records are protected by law and will not be shared with immigration authorities unless required by a judicial order or subpoena.
• Immediate Enrollment: We remain dedicated to enrolling all district residents immediately, including those who may be experiencing homelessness or living in temporary housing.

We believe that for a student to succeed, they must first feel safe. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure our schools remain environments where every child can focus on their education without fear.

Please do not hesitate to contact the District Office with any operational questions that may arise.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jackielyn Manning Campbell
Superintendent of Schools

Superintendent’s Office: 845-563-3500
Transportation Department: 845-568-6833
Safety & Security: 845-563-3408
Building Principals should use cell phone numbers before or after office hours.

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!