Mar 24, 2009 6:10 pm US/Eastern
Md. School Board Rejects Illegal Immigration Tally

BALTIMORE

The Maryland State Board of Education has blocked an effort to make Frederick County public school administrators count the number of illegal immigrant students.

The question was posed in October by the Frederick County Commissioners. Proponents said a tally of undocumented school children could prompt federal lawmakers to increase education funding or take stronger action against illegal immigration.

But the state school board said in a written opinion Tuesday that proponents had not shown a substantial, valid governmental interest in such a tally.

The state board said it agrees with the local school board and the state attorney general's office that collecting information on immigration status would make some immigrant parents afraid to enroll their children in school.

http://wjz.com/local/illegal.immigratio ... 66899.html