Community Service Providers:

Community Response Coalition of Kentucky (CRCKY)

The Nest Lexington

Legal Services:

Neighbors Immigration Clinic

Maxwell Legal Aid Clinic

Kentucky Refugee Ministries 

Healthcare: 

Bluegrass Community Health Center

HealthFirst Bluegrass 

Adult English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes:

Lexington Public Library

The Carnegie Center

Local Government:

City of Lexington Global Engagement Center (Global Lex)

Mayor's International Affairs Advisory Commission

Driver's Licenses:

Kentucky Driver License and Rules of the Road | Courses in Swahili, Arabic, and French

Media:

RADIOLEX | Spanish

Colleges and Universities:

Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) | Global Learning Center 

University of Kentucky (UK) | International Student Center

Cultural Organizations:

Casa De La Cultura Kentucky

Marafiki Center

Bharatiya Temple and Cultural Center (BTCC)

Association of Nepali in Kentucky America (ANKA)

Kentucky Association of Chinese Language Teachers (KACLT)

Japan America Society of Kentucky (JASK)

• Settling in the U.S. Guide | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) | Immigrant Legal Resource Center | ILRC
• Kentucky Office For Refugees (KOR)
• How To | National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC)
• Know Your Rights | Immigrants' Rights | American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• Resources & Toolkits for Belonging | Welcoming America
• Resources for LGBTQ+ Immigrants | Immigration Equality
• Immigration Research & Data | Migration Policy Institute (MPI)

• Bluegrass Community & Technical College (free classes)
• Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) | U.S. Department of Education
• Colorín Colorado | A bilingual site for educators and families of English language learners 
• Bridging Refugee Youth and Children's Services (BRYCS) 
• Newcomer Resources | Internationals Network 
• Language and Arts Multilingual Digital Resources | Rutu Foundation 
• Resources for Multilingual Learners | National Education Association (NEA)
• Curated list of books/audiobooks in various languages. (Requires FCPS login)

No. Under the U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court precedent (Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202), all children have the right to attend public school regardless of immigration or citizenship status.

No. FCPS does not collect documentation on students’ or families’ immigration status as part of the enrollment process.

Yes. On Jan. 21, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security rescinded its previous guidelines that designated schools as “protected areas.” This change means that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies are no longer categorically barred from engaging in enforcement activities on or near school grounds.

School leaders and staff have been instructed to refer all requests for access to students or student information directly to the FCPS district office or General Counsel’s Office before taking any action.

FERPA/KFERPA generally prohibits the release of student educational records (including personally identifiable information) without prior written consent from a parent/guardian or a lawfully issued judicial order.

If a federal agent appears with a warrant, subpoena, or court order, the district will verify whether it is a judicial warrant (signed by a judge) rather than an administrative warrant, and will consult with legal counsel before granting any access to records or students.

Fayette County Public Schools is committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all students. Harassment or bullying based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other status is strictly prohibited.

• Under the FCPS Student Code of Conduct, harassment, hate speech, and bullying related to protected traits can be classified as Class III violations, which can carry significant disciplinary consequences.
• If you or your child experiences harassment or bullying, please report it immediately to the principal, a counselor, or another administrator.

You can also submit an anonymous report through the Stop Tip Line, which is available in over 100 languages. FCPS will act promptly on these reports to ensure student safety and well-being.

FCPS values diversity and employs staff from various backgrounds to better serve our students and families. If you are legally authorized to work in the United States, your employment with FCPS is secure as long as you continue to meet the conditions of your contract and maintain your legal work authorization. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the FCPS Human Resources Department, (859) 422-1947. 

Under FERPA/KFERPA and Board Policy 9.01, certain limited information in a student’s record may be designated as “directory information.” Examples include a student’s name, address, phone number, dates of attendance, grade level, participation in officially recognized activities/sports, honors and awards, and the most recent school attended.

• However, FCPS does not release directory information to third parties unless there is a legitimate educational interest or other lawful reason to do so (e.g., as required by a law enforcement agency with superintendent approval).

• Opt-Out: Parents/guardians have the right to opt-out of allowing FCPS to share directory information by submitting a written request. To do this, simply notify your child’s school that you do not consent to the release of directory information.

• Limiting Disclosure: FCPS does not release directory information to third parties unless there is a legitimate educational purpose or legal reason. Even with an opt-out, however, FCPS may be required to disclose information if served with a valid judicial warrant or subpoena. In such cases, the district generally must comply with the court order, though we will make every effort to notify parents/guardians beforehand unless the order itself prohibits notification.

FCPS recognizes the anxiety that some families may have about detainment or other immigration-related emergencies. We recommend families:

• Keep emergency contact information current at your child’s school. Make sure the school knows who can pick up your child if you are unavailable.
• Provide alternative caregiver contacts if you cannot be reached.
• Have a family plan in place to ensure children’s needs are met if a parent/guardian is suddenly unable to return home.

• FERPA/KFERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act / Kentucky Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protect the confidentiality of all student education records.
• FCPS staff, volunteers, contractors, and vendors are trained to ensure that no personally identifiable student information is released without appropriate consent.
• If you have questions or concerns about your child’s records, or wish to inspect or correct any inaccurate information, please contact your school principal.

Your child’s principal or counselor is often the first point of contact for questions about enrollment, safety, or individual student issues.