New Survey: Immigration Concerns Are Changing How Some Hispanic Families Participate in School

17% of parents say they have avoided a school event and 14% have kept their child home because of concerns related to today's immigration policy environment.

MIAMI, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Immigration concerns are affecting how some Hispanic families participate in their children's education and how they think about where their children learn, according to a new national survey conducted by Conoce tus Opciones Escolares, a program of the National School Choice Awareness Foundation (NSCAF), as Hispanic Heritage Month begins.

More than half of Hispanic parents surveyed (57%) say today's immigration policy environment is at least somewhat concerning in their family's day-to-day life. In the past 12 months, 17% say they skipped or avoided a school event or activity because of these concerns, 14% kept their child home from school, 11% avoided contacting teachers or school staff, and 10% changed transportation or school drop-off and pick-up routines.

The findings come as Hispanic students represent a growing share of American public education. Nearly three in ten (29%) students enrolled in public K-12 schools are Hispanic. Concerns about the immigration environment can extend beyond a person's own immigration status. Pew Research Center estimates that 82% of Latino adults in the U.S. have full legal status, while its research shows that immigration-related concerns and changes in daily routines are also being reported across the broader Latino community.

"As a Latina, it's encouraging to see how deeply Hispanic parents want to be involved in their children's education," said Krissia Campos Spivey, senior director of Conoce tus Opciones Escolares. "At the same time, I know that concerns outside the classroom can make it harder for families to participate as fully as they would like."

Immigration concerns are also factoring into some parents' education decisions. In the past year, 41% say these concerns led them to consider, actively explore, or choose a different school or learning environment in the past year, including 5% who say they chose a different school or learning environment. Parents most often pointed to a different traditional public school (33%), followed by a public charter school (22%) and homeschooling (20%).

At the same time, 80% of parents describe their child's school as welcoming or very welcoming toward Hispanic students and families.

"What's interesting is that a school can be a welcoming place for a family while outside forces still make it harder for parents to fully participate in their child's education," Campos said. "These concerns can affect a much broader community than people might assume, and understanding those barriers is an important part of helping families navigate their children's education."

When asked what would help them navigate these concerns, parents most often pointed to clear information about children's right to a public education regardless of status (41%), school communications and materials available in Spanish (27%), mental health support for children (26%), and connections to community or legal resources (25%).

The findings are part of NSCAF's 2026 Hispanic Heritage Month Family Voices Survey, which explores the experiences, priorities, and challenges Hispanic parents face as they navigate their children's education. The national survey included 559 self-identified Hispanic parents, guardians, and primary caregivers of children ages 5-18 across the United States. Respondents were not asked about or selected based on their immigration status.

The full results of the survey are available at https://myschoolchoice.com/tips/hispanic-heritage-month.

The National School Choice Awareness Foundation (NSCAF) raises broad and positive awareness of school choice through three charitable programs: Navigate School Choice and Conoce tus Opciones Escolares, which focus on researching, developing, and promoting comprehensive, unbiased school navigation resources for families, as well as National School Choice Week, which celebrates effective education options each January. NSCAF does not advocate for or oppose legislation at any level of government and is steadfastly nonpartisan and nonpolitical.

SOURCE National School Choice Awareness Foundation