Beacon Press: Making Americans
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Making Americans

Plyler v. Doe and Opening the School Door

Author: Jessica Lander

A vital history of Plyler v. Doe, the landmark case that affirmed every child’s right to a public education in the US—no matter their immigration status

For educators, advocates, and parents, with commentary from Congressman Jamie Raskin and from Gaby Pacheco, TheDream.US president and a proud Plyler student

Every child, no matter their background or immigration status, deserves an education. The US Supreme Court upheld this in its 1982 decision in Plyler v. Doe, which affirmed public schooling as a right for all children. Yet today, our students, teachers, and school administrators face virulent anti-immigration rhetoric, unjust education policies, and classroom ICE raids.

This essential history, excerpted from the award-winning book Making Americans, tells the inspiring story of the courageous families, lawyers, and judges who championed Plyler v. Doe. Teachers seeking to better support their immigrant-origin students will also find actionable resources like:

  • A rapid response guide to supporting immigrant-origin students for teachers, school administrators, and district leaders
  • A personal letter from Lídia Lopez, one of the mothers at the heart of the case
  • Guiding questions, primary sources, and recommended reading for teaching students about Plyler v. Doe
  • Ideas for classroom activities to teach about immigrant education policy and the undocumented student experience

This e-book also features a foreword from Gaby Pacheco, a proud Plyler student and president and CEO of TheDream.US, and an afterword from US representative Jamie Raskin, a champion of the US Constitution and students’ First Amendment rights. This companion to Making Americans will empower educators and allies with the knowledge and the hope they need to protect their students’ right to learn.
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Making Americans

ISBN: 978-080702494-2
 Publication Date: 10/28/2025
 Size: x
Price:  $2.99
Format: Electronic
Availability: In stock.
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