RBERN West Conference Focuses on Helping Schools Support Immigrant Students and Families

Educators and school officials from across Western New York connected to learn about supporting immigrant students’ and their families in the face of rapid changes in the national immigration landscape.  
 
The Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network (RBERN) West hosted the event, “What Educators Need to Know About Immigration Law,” in tandem with the Mid-West RBERN office in the Rochester area on March 27. The event brought together more than 100 administrators, teachers, school support staff, and community members to hear from local and national experts. 
 
“Our region covers rural, urban and suburban schools districts, but the common thread is that educators want to have a better grasp of the law and have more concrete information so that they can do what they can to support their students,” said Anne Henry, RBERN West Supervisor.  
 
In the morning, participants heard from author, educator, and legal professional Greg Cunningham. The afternoon included a panel discussion with representatives of area groups from the Arab-American Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) of WNY, Justice for Migrant Families WNY, Jewish Family Services and the City University of New York’s - Initiative on Immigration and Education (CUNY-IIE). Beyond legal guidance, the event provided participants with an understanding of area resources and experts they can turn to for support. 
 
RBERN West is part of a statewide system of support funded by the NYSED, Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL). 
 
"New York State Guidance on Safeguarding the Rights of Immigrant Students,” released in January 2025, can be found here.