Help Defend Immigrant Students in Florida’s Colleges

by | June 21, 2026

Dear Friend,

Did you know that the Florida Department of Education (DOE) has proposed two rules to bar undocumented students from Florida’s public colleges and adult education programs?

Read more here.

Here’s the thing: the Legislature already rejected these exact restrictions. Now DOE is trying to do by rule-making what lawmakers did not approve in law.

These rules exceed DOE’s authority, conflict with student privacy law, and hurt our students and colleges. These are students living in Florida without status, through no fault of their own. They already no longer have in-state tuition, and now the Department of Education wants to ban them from even attending our public colleges.

I’ve already submitted my formal opposition.

If you believe every student deserves a path to learn and work, regardless of their status, add your voice by submitting a comment to the Florida Department of Education before their June 30th meeting.

Here’s how to leave your public comments:

  • Follow this link: https://web02.fldoe.org/rules
  • Scroll down, and click on ‘Submit Comment’ for the following:
    • Proposed Rule (6A.6.014), General Requirements for Adult General Education Programs
    • Proposed Rule (6A-10.0240), Minimum Standards for Out-of-state High School Equivalency Diplomas

You can personalize this message:

Dear Members of the State Board of Education,

I am writing to oppose Proposed Rule 6A-10.0240 and Proposed Rule 6A-6.014, which would bar undocumented students from Florida’s public colleges and Adult General Education programs. I urge the Department to withdraw both.

These rules contradict the Legislature’s intent. This exact restriction was removed from legislation in both chambers during the 2026 session. They also exceed the Department’s rulemaking authority by adding immigration-status requirements that the governing statutes do not contain, conflict with the constitutional duty to educate all children and with federal student-privacy law (FERPA), and would cost Florida’s colleges roughly $15 million a year while pushing motivated learners out of the workforce.

I respectfully ask the Department to withdraw these rules in full.

Sincerely,

[Name]

Thank you for joining us in protecting all of Florida’s students.

Onward together,