Plyler v. Doe

Learn more about the 1982 Supreme Court decision which declared that undocumented children are entitled to a free public education

Tracker

Image of a boy with a blue backpack standing in front of the entrance to school.
Which States Are Challenging Undocumented Students’ Right to Free Education?
States are reviving efforts to challenge the 1982 Plyler v. Doe ruling that guarantees undocumented students a free, public education.
View Tracker
Equity & Diversity Scholar Calls Plyler v. Doe Ruling 'Resilient'
The 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that students are entitled to a free K-12 education regardless of their immigration status has been "resilient," in part because of strong backing from educators over the years, a law scholar says in an analysis of the ruling.
Mary Ann Zehr, September 20, 2010
•
1 min read
Equity & Diversity Opinion: Where Might We Be Without Plyler v. Doe? Look at Arizona
Linda Greenhouse protests the enactment of an anti-immigrant law in Arizona by speculating how undocumented school-age children in this country might be treated if the U.S. Supreme Court hadn't ruled in favor of scuh children in Plyer v. Doe in 1982.
Mary Ann Zehr, April 27, 2010
•
1 min read
Law & Courts News in Brief Plyler Judge Dies
U.S. Senior District Judge William Wayne Justice, who more than a quarter-century ago ordered Texas to educate undocumented children, died on Oct. 13.
Mary Ann Zehr, October 27, 2009
•
1 min read
Education A Scholar's Look at MALDEF's Role in Plyler v. Doe
For the 25th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v. Doe--which obligated public schools to enroll children regardless of their immigration status--I spent three days last month reporting in Tyler, Texas, where the case originated. The ruling was issued on June 15, 1982.
Mary Ann Zehr, June 6, 2007
•
1 min read
"I'm glad we lost the Hispanic [court case]. 50 that those kids could get educated." - James Plyler, former superintendent of the Tyler public schools
"I'm glad we lost the Hispanic [court case]. 50 that those kids could get educated." - James Plyler, former superintendent of the Tyler public schools
Jessica Rinaldi for Education Week
Law & Courts Case Touched Many Parts of Community
In a close-knit Texas city, many of those involved in the Plyer v. Doe case remain, assess impact.
Mary Ann Zehr, June 4, 2007
•
3 min read
Twenty-five years ago, the Plyler v. Doe case was first argued in Tyler, Texas. Now, amid debate about illegal immigration, some complain about undocumented Mexican men who often gather in a local parking lot for day labor.
Twenty-five years ago, the Plyler v. Doe case was first argued in Tyler, Texas. Now, amid debate about illegal immigration, some complain about undocumented Mexican men who often gather in a local parking lot for day labor.
Jessica Rinaldi for Education Week
Equity & Diversity Amid Immigration Debate, Settled Ground
A school district marks the 25th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision barring it from charging tuition for undocumented children.
Mary Ann Zehr, June 1, 2007
•
8 min read
Education A Foundation Magazine Looks Back 25 Years to Plyler v. Doe
I found it refreshing to read in the Carnegie Reporter, a magazine of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, an article about educating immigrant students that didn't mention the No Child Left Behind Act.
Mary Ann Zehr, May 7, 2007
•
1 min read
Education The Supreme Court's Decision in Plyler v. Doe
Following are excerpts from the Supreme Court's opinion in Plyler v. Doe, the Texas case on the education of illegal-alien children. The majority opinion, excerpts of which begin on this page, was written by Associate Justice William J. Brennan Jr. Section I of the opinion, which gives the background of the case, was omitted. The full text of the dissent, written by Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, follows.

In the text, 21.031 refers to the Texas statute allowing school districts to charge tuition to illegal-alien children. One asterisk [

  • ] denotes a deleted footnote; two asterisks [
  • ] denote a deleted citation. Where footnotes were retained, they appear in brackets and in italic type.
June 23, 1982
•
26 min read
Education Illegal Aliens Entitled to Education, Court Rules
Correspondent Susan Levine in Houston contributed to this report.
Eileen White, June 23, 1982
•
7 min read
Load More ▼