Should Social Security Numbers Be Required for School Enrollment?

A New Jersey school district agreed to change its policy on documents needed to register children last week after it was sued by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey.

The Butler School District was accused of discriminating against immigrant families by requiring parents to show a driver’s license photo ID or other state or county-issued identification when enrolling children in the district.

Those forms of identification require social security numbers or valid immigration status.

In a statement following the decision, the ACLU-NJ said, “While school districts may require proof of residency, the Constitution and state regulations mandate that public schools provide equal access to students regardless of their or their parents’ immigration status.”

So what do you think? Was the change by Butler the right move, or should it have stood by its policy? Should the state allow school districts to only require proof of residency, or should registration for enrollment require more specific documentation?