HOUSTON – A Katy Independent School District board of trustee member called for legislation to allow the tracking of a student’s immigration status during Monday’s meeting.
The trustee, Morgan Calhoun, asked if the district knew just how many illegal immigrant children were enrolled at Katy ISD.
“When we’re talking about trends and we’re talking about student counts, demographically, are we, do we have any way of measuring or, coming to an understanding of how many illegal immigrant children that we have within our district that we are educating? Are we even allowed to ask the question? Do we have any way of tracking that? Just to see what that looks like,” Calhoun said.
Katy ISD Superintendent Ken Gregorski responded, stating there are certain rules to educating all children in Texas—regardless of a student’s immigration status.
“It would be unlawful to ask their immigration status. So, we don’t track that,” said Gregorski.
Gregorski also said there is no data the district has to track if an enrolled student is a legal or illegal citizen.
In June 1982, the Supreme Court issued Plyler v. Doe, a landmark decision holding that states cannot constitutionally deny students a free public education on account of their immigration status.
Calhoun responded by citing the crisis at the border.
“This is just a fact that we are having to deal with that crisis in our districts. And so, I think, when we’re looking at the budget that we’re looking at and we’re squeezed in the way that we’re squeezed. I feel like it’s relevant to start asking these questions, to push on our legislators when we go forward in 2025 and we start talking about where our needs are,” Calhoun said.
Calhoun’s comments didn’t sit well with Carlos Moreno who was picking up his grandchild at Katy Elementary.
“It’s our responsibility to make sure that we don’t pass that kind of legislation that are going to go against the humanity and the quality of life that this country offers to people like me who was educated because I had the opportunity available to me,” said Carlos Moreno.
Bianca Osborne, a parent in the same pickup line, had a different take.
“I think I would kind of side with her on it, honestly,” Osborne said.
Dr. Sergio Lira, the President of Greater Houston LULAC 4967 said he was outraged by Calhoun’s comments.
“Mrs. Morgan Calhoun you should consider resigning for proposing such Ludacris policies,” Lira said.
KPRC 2 reached out Calhoun but didn’t not hear back from her.
In a statement Katy ISD said they do not inquire about a student’s immigration status nor deny enrollment based on it.