An estimated 40 migrant children are expected to be enrolled in D.C. Public Schools, Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee said at a press conference yesterday. The announcement comes after multiple months of thousands of migrant families being bused to D.C. from Texas and Arizona. 

“We have a process in place to support families who have arrived here under these types of circumstances and will be providing direct enrollment and other DCPS supports,” DCPS shared in an official statement. The number of students to be enrolled is based on the estimated number of school-age migrants in the District that DCPS has identified, spokesperson Enrique Gutierrez told DCist/WAMU.

All students are eligible for DCPS’s Kids Ride Free program no matter their immigration status, Ferebee said. The DCPS welcoming center should also be able to provide housing assistance, and individual schools will also have resources for students.

Texas Gov. Gregg Abbot and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey have been busing migrants to D.C. since the spring in protest of the Biden administration’s immigration policies. Local organizers have tried their best to provide a welcoming environment but have struggled to support the thousands of migrants transported. Mayor Muriel Bowser has twice asked for support from the National Guard to facilitate the new arrivals, and has twice been denied by the Department of Defense. Families have been sheltered at a D.C. quarantine hotel, but advocates have described inadequate treatment for unhoused families.

A spokesperson previously told DCist/WAMU that DCPS representatives would be visiting the hotel this week to register students. “DCPS is eager to serve all families,” he said.

Meanwhile, with more students to be enrolled, schools are still suffering from above-average teacher shortages.

“We typically run anywhere from 75 to 100 vacancies throughout the school year. We currently have a vacancy count around about 150,” Chancellor Ferebee said Wednesday. To accommodate the shortage, Ferebee added that 50 central service staff members will serve as substitute teachers.

Previously: 

Migrant Families Are Sheltered At A D.C. Quarantine Hotel. Their Advocates Describe Inadequate Treatment

Feds Again Deny D.C.’s Request For National Guard Help With Bused Migrants

Local Organizers Say Bowser Administration Is Failing Migrants Being Bused To D.C.

Inside The Local Mutual Aid Effort Supporting The Migrants Texas Bused To D.C.