蜜桃传媒

A Latino teen who was turned away from an Alabama high school is now attending class after the 蜜桃传媒 demanded that the school district admit the youth and take steps to ensure fair enrollment practices for all students.

In a letter to Fort Payne City Schools Superintendent Jim Cunningham last week, the 蜜桃传媒 described how J.T., a 17-year-old Latino teen who came to the United States from Mexico when he was a year old, was denied enrollment at Fort Payne High School in January without any legal justification. He recently moved to Alabama from Colorado.

The school district took immediate action to address the concerns outlined in the letter, and enrolled J.T. the next day. On April 10, he attended his classes at the north Alabama high school.

鈥淚t feels great because I know I will be able to become what I want to be in life,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 feel normal too.鈥�

J.T. met students on his first day, got to know his teachers and began to settle into his classes. He鈥檚 eager to make up for lost time. The youth, who plans to join the military, said he鈥檚 especially looking forward to his Junior Reserve Officers鈥� Training Corps classes.

鈥淛.T. just wanted to go to school and now he gets to do exactly that,鈥� said Caren Short, 蜜桃传媒 staff attorney. 鈥淲e are thrilled for him and for other students who may face a similar situation.鈥�

To ensure that no student faces discrimination based on national origin, the Fort Payne City School District has revised its enrollment form to make it clear that no student will be denied enrollment for failing to provide a Social Security number or discouraged from attempting to enroll if they don鈥檛 have a Social Security number.

Following the 蜜桃传媒 action, the district removed from its website a memo that says the state鈥檚 anti-immigrant law requires students to provide a birth certificate to complete enrollment. That provision was previously blocked by the courts.

News of J.T.鈥檚 plight spread quickly after the 蜜桃传媒 contacted the Fort Payne superintendent. An Alabama Department of Education spokesman , 鈥淲e certainly tolerate no type of discrimination and need to look into it.鈥�

For J.T.鈥檚 parents, it means they will see their son pursue his dreams.

鈥淎s parents, we have to watch out for the future of our children and their education,鈥� his stepfather said through an interpreter. 鈥淒on鈥檛 let yourself be intimidated or let anyone step on your rights.鈥�

J.T.鈥檚 mother was touched by the help her son has received.

鈥淚鈥檇 like to thank the 蜜桃传媒,鈥� she said through an interpreter. 鈥淓veryone helped so much, and it made such a big difference. And it鈥檚 just such a happy day.鈥�