Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part K (2025)

Since 1982, with the Supreme Court's decision in Plyler v Doe, the United States’ policy has stated that all students, regardless of immigration status, should have the right to study at the K-12 level. However, given the current political environment, some of those rights for immigrant students are beginning to be endangered, and there is an effort to relitigate the Plyler case. This article examines how high school social studies educators can effectively teach about issues related to the history of immigrants in education, the legal rights for immigrants, and the broader context of immigration history. The broader public is not often aware of the education rights for immigrant students nor the current movements to undermine some of these previous protections. Understanding of these topics is crucial not only to ensure civic knowledge but to help combat xenophobic rhetoric and policies in the current political moment.