The comprehensive study, which examined policies in all 50 states plus Washington D.C., found that 42 states scored between C- and D- on a rubric measuring how well they identify, track, and fund programs for newcomer students. Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Montana, and West Virginia received failing grades.
"Without support or guidance from the federal government, states are on the front lines of supporting immigrant youth in schools and classrooms," said Alejandra Vázquez Baur, a Century Foundation fellow and co-author of the report who leads TCF's National Newcomer Network. "Every single student in this country, including newcomers, has a right to a free and quality education: now is the time for states to step up, and our report shows them how."
The study comes amid heightened federal hostility toward immigrant communities under the Trump administration, placing additional pressure on state and local education leaders to protect and support newcomer students.
Researchers spent years analyzing state education agency websites, funding formulas, and policies to assess three key areas: how states define newcomer students, what data they collect about this population, and what funding mechanisms exist beyond federal Title III grants.
The findings reveal significant inconsistencies across states. While some use the term "newcomer" as a specific designation, more than 30 state education agencies rely exclusively on the federal definition of "immigrant children and youth" under Title III, which was designed primarily for funding and accountability purposes rather than comprehensive student support.
Only four state education agencies—Oregon, Kentucky, Washington, and North Dakota—have established clear, statewide definitions of "newcomer" and consistently collect data on subgroups to inform eligibility, programs, and student supports.
