Which court case holds that states cannot deny students a free public education based on immigration status?

• A. Plyler v. Doe
• B. Brown v Board of Education
• C. Garcetti v. Ceballos
• D. Rasul v. Bush

Answer: (A)

Access to a free public education is guaranteed to all children within a state, regardless of immigration status. This principle was established in Plyler v. Doe, where the Supreme Court struck down a state law that would deny or charge tuition for undocumented children attending public schools. The Court held that excluding these children from public education would violate the Equal Protection Clause because it punishes children for actions associated with their parents and creates a separate, unequal educational system. Education is essential for opportunity and integration into society, so denying it based on immigration status is unconstitutional.

The other cases involve different rights: Brown v. Board of Education deals with racial segregation in schools, Garcetti v. Ceballos concerns free speech of public employees, and Rasul v. Bush addresses detainee rights. None of them address whether states may deny a free public education based on immigration status.