Strong communities are built on structure, responsibility, and opportunity — values Americans have long championed. One of the most effective ways to uphold those principles is simple: Keep kids in school.
I have spent my career advocating for strong borders, the rule of law, and accountability in our immigration system. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I held the Biden administration accountable for failures at the southern border. So, when I say denying children access to K-12 education goes too far, it is not because my views have changed. It is because doing so creates larger problems for our communities.
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For more than 40 years, federal law has recognized that educating children is not only a moral imperative, but a practical one. In Plyler v. Doe, the Supreme Court affirmed that access to public education helps prevent long-term social and economic harm. That reasoning remains sound today.
But unfortunately, this foundational principle established in Plyler v. Doe faces unprecedented threats. Across the country, we are witnessing an increasingly coordinated effort to restrict or deny educational access to children based on their immigration status. In the face of this, it is critical that we stand firm in our commitment to the principles that have protected our children and strengthened our communities for decades.
Beyond family and faith, schools provide structure in a young person’s life. Students who remain engaged in school are far more likely to experience positive long-term outcomes. Schools create daily accountability through attendance and supervision, and teachers, counselors, and administrators often serve as early warning systems, identifying challenges before they become crises. Too often, federal and state leaders are forced to respond only after problems escalate. Schools are among the few places where intervention can occur early, before issues require far greater government involvement. When kids are in school, they are guided, encouraged, and supported by trusted adults who can step in when something goes wrong.
When children are denied access to school, that structure disappears, and communities feel the consequences. This is true regardless of a child’s background or their family’s legal status. Ezekiel 18:20 reminds us that “the son shall not be charged with the guilt of his father.” It is fundamentally unjust for children to bear responsibility for circumstances beyond their control.
Research consistently shows that chronic school absence is linked to higher rates of future involvement with the criminal justice system. Unsupervised youth place greater strain on law enforcement, courts, and emergency services. From a public safety standpoint, prevention is always more effective than reaction. Keeping young people on track is safer, more effective, and far less expensive than addressing the consequences later.
The fiscal argument is equally clear. Taxpayers pay either way. Education costs less than incarceration and court involvement. The United States already spends hundreds of billions annually on policing and incarceration, with total social costs far higher. Cutting off access to education does not save money. It increases long-term costs.
Government works best when it focuses on its core responsibilities. Schools exist to educate America’s children, not to compensate for failures in federal immigration policy. That responsibility belongs to Congress. President Donald Trump has made important progress in securing the southern border, and Congress should continue supporting those efforts. Schools, meanwhile, should remain focused on education.
Public opinion reinforces what common sense tells us. Recent national polling of Republican and Republican-leaning independent voters found that 87% agree that every child living in the U.S., regardless of their background, deserves access to a basic education. Nearly two-thirds also agree that children should not be punished for decisions made by their parents. These findings make clear that keeping kids in school is not a partisan issue. It reflects a basic principle shared by conservatives across the country: Children should have the opportunity to learn, and our communities are stronger when they do.
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This is why leaders from business, education, and public safety have come together as part of a new group committed to protecting access to K-12 education and reinforcing schools’ role in strong communities. This effort reflects a principle that has served our country well for decades.
Keeping kids in school is the right thing to do for our communities and for our country. I look forward to continuing this work with leaders across the country to ensure this message is heard.
Jake LaTurner is a former U.S. congressman who represented Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District and, among other roles, now serves as the Executive Director of Right Place for Kids.