New York DOE’s Guidance for Schools on How to Manage Influx of Migrant Students Sparks Criticism

Recently arrived migrants gather outside of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City on Aug. 14, 2023. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The New York City Department of Education (DOE) is facing criticism after issuing very brief guidance instructing educators on how to handle the influx of migrants as classes are set to start on Sept. 7.

In its 2-page “Guidance on Project Open Arms,” the DOE noted that some children may face language barriers when it comes to interacting with their teachers and peers, and asks teachers in these cases to find a staff member who speaks the child’s “preferred language.”