Assistance

A family's well-being has a tremendous effect on the academic outcomes of our students, and as a public institution, we want to help our families by providing a list of resources both within the school district and with community partners that they can turn to in their time of need.

Fort Wayne Community Schools offers breakfast and lunch at no cost to students in elementary, middle and high schools as part of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National School Lunch Program.

Nutrition Services

Need more help? Visit our community partners:

Blessings in a Backpack

Community Harvest

Miss Virginia's Food Pantry

Homelessness

Immigration Information & Resources

We recognize the growing fear and uncertainty among many families in our district caused by ongoing national discussions, particularly regarding immigration policies. Fort Wayne Community Schools is committed to providing a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students and families regardless of immigration status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation or any other basis. We recognize and value our student population and believe all students deserve the opportunity to learn without fear.

FWCS is committed to its practice of not inquiring about a student or parents’ immigration status at any time, including during enrollment. We will continue to follow school safety protocols, District policy, and state and federal laws, which provide guidance on who is allowed to contact students during the school day and who has access to student documents. FWCS is not allowed to share personal student information with anyone without parental consent. We also do not allow individuals to enter our school buildings without authorization and proper clearance.

When families face uncertainty, Fort Wayne Community Schools will be a place of stability where students can continue to learn and grow. If you or your child need assistance, please reach out to your child’s school.

Read our Board resolution here

Immigration Resolution

FWCS Shall Provide a Safe and Welcoming Learning Environment for All Students, Regardless of Immigration Status

WHEREAS, Fort Wayne Community Schools (“FWCS”) is committed to providing a safe and welcoming learning environment where all students have the opportunity to succeed, secure in the knowledge that the District will support their well-being regardless of immigration status, national origin, race, or religion; and WHEREAS, this Board recognizes the tremendous value and diversity that immigrant students and families bring to the District; and WHEREAS, this Board approved the establishment of the Family and Community Engagement Center (FACE), which opened in July 2016, to provide critical support services through innovative solutions that address the health, wellness, and educational needs of all FWCS children, youth, and families, regardless of immigration status; and WHEREAS, this Board finds that immigration-enforcement activities at our schools would significantly disrupt the learning environment and interfere with our students’ rights to be free from unreasonable search and seizure and to access a free public education under the United States and Indiana Constitutions; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that to the extent permitted by law:  FWCS shall provide a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students, regardless of their immigration status, that affords a learning environment free from the disruption of immigration enforcement;  FWCS will refrain from inquiring about a student or parents’ immigration status and will continue to follow the practice of not requiring social security numbers for any enrolled or enrolling student;  FWCS employees, contractors, volunteers and representatives will not assist immigration enforcement efforts, by collecting or providing information regarding the immigration status of any student or their family.

Board of School Trustees, last revised on February 17, 2017

Immigration Resolution - Spanish

Immigration Resolution - Burmese

FAQs

As FWCS learns about new immigration enforcement directives from the state and federal government, we want to assure all students and families that we will continue to provide a safe learning environment for all students, regardless of immigration status. This Q&A should help families understand FWCS policy and procedure (designed to ensure student safety and protect student privacy) and to provide information about where families can look for help in the community.

If I keep my child home from school due to fear of immigration enforcement activity, will FWCS mark the student absent?

FWCS will continue to follow the FWCS attendance policy as found in the Student and Family Support Guide. Please know that we have not seen and do not anticipate imminent immigration enforcement activity in schools. However, if you choose to keep your student at home, please let the school or teachers know so they can provide remote work if possible, to keep your student from falling behind.

Will FWCS employees ask my student or any family members about their immigration status?

No, FWCS does not inquire about a student, parent or any family member’s immigration status at any time, including during enrollment. Federal law dictates that all children living in the United States (including children who are undocumented immigrants) can attend public school from kindergarten through 12^th grade. Further, Indiana law requires all children to be in school. Truancy laws benefit the growth and well-being of students, which benefits every family and community.

What will FWCS do if a student’s parents or guardians are detained during the school day?

If a family is concerned that a student’s parents or guardians might be detained during the school day, they should provide FWCS with additional emergency contacts. FWCS will communicate with the contacts designated by parents or legal guardians if they can’t reach the primary contacts. Families may also contact the Wendy Y. Robinson Family & Community Engagement Center for information about completing Third-Party Agreements and any questions related to custody.

Do immigration customs and enforcement (ICE) officials have the right to arrest or detain my student?

Can ICE officials demand records from schools, and what will FWCS do to protect student information?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits schools from sharing personally identifiable information in education records without parental consent. Those privacy protections apply to all students, regardless of immigration status. FWCS will not share student records with ICE officials without parental consent, a subpoena or warrant. In almost all cases, even if presented with a subpoena or warrant, FWCS will not immediately produce the requested records. FWCS will review the documentation authenticity, notify parents of the request, and will thereafter timely comply, per the terms of the order.

Is it safe to bring my student to school?

How will I know if ICE came to my school?

If I need additional help, what can I do?

Other Community Resources

Amani Family Services

Catholic Charities

Immigration Legal Services Directory

Technology Help

Well-Being - Mental Health

Taking care of our mental health is important and leads to SAFER Schools! Learn more about our licensed therapists that are here to help support the mental and emotional health of our students.

Student Well-Being

Need help for you or others? Visit these external websites for more assistance.

Mental Health Access Fund

NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Illness

Parkview - Get Help Now

Financial Assistance

Our district provides meals (breakfast & lunch) and textbooks at no costs to our students thanks to state funding and programs, but we still need our families to fill out the state of Indiana Financial Assistance Application as it means millions of dollars for our school district.

Filling out this application

Allows your school to:

receive the maximum benefits from the state to fund our programs for students
offer discounted fees for a variety of school and home programs, including
- co-curricular activity fees
- field trip costs

May help you qualify for:

state and federal assistance programs

Fill out the Financial Assistance Application HERE

Indiana Departments of Workforce Development

FWCS Clothing Bank

Academic Help

Does your student need academic help or tutoring?

The first step in finding help for your student is communicating with their teachers. Teachers are available by phone, e-mail or through ParentSquare.

STUDY CONNECTION

Study Connection is a service of the FWCS Community Programs Department, combining the volunteer power of the community with public education to deliver a cost-effective and efficient tutoring program helping FWCS students. The Study Connection office recruits volunteers to work with FWCS students identified by teachers as needing one-to-one tutoring assistance. Students and tutors meet after school, one day each week for one hour during the school year. Call 260.467.8810 for more information.

More Resources

Project Reads

Through its student program, Project READS matches trained volunteers with students in grades K-3 who are striving to reach grade-level reading goals. For one hour each week during the school year, tutors, who also serve as mentors and role models, work with students either one-to-one or in small groups to improve literacy skills. Academic progress is measured through year-end assessments and in the smiles of proud graduates. For more information, visit Project READS or call 260.423.6447.

Homework Hotline

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Homework Hotline offers free math and science help for students in 6-12 grades. Tutors are qualified students at Rose-Hulman Institute. Tutoring takes place via telephone, but tutors have access to FWCS textbooks. When students call, they should have a textbook, paper and pencil handy. Tutors are available Sunday through Thursday, from 7-10 pm. Call 877.ASK.ROSE (877.275.7673) toll-free.