Advocate Has Supported Immigrant Families in NYC Schools
Attorney Diana Aragundi now provides legal help to local families navigating school enrollment and special education needs.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Special Education
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Attorney Diana Aragundi leads efforts to support immigrant families in the New York City education system through the Immigrant Students' Rights Project at Advocates for Children. The initiative offers legal representation for school enrollment, transfers, and special education accommodations to eligible families with children under 22.
Why it matters
Navigating the complexities of school services can be a significant hurdle for immigrant families, and Aragundi uses her role to address systemic barriers. By championing translation services and bilingual education, her work aims to ensure that language and legal hurdles do not prevent children from accessing their education.
The Immigrant Students' Rights Project serves families with children up to 22 years old who meet specific income requirements. This legal advocacy follows a landmark 2026 settlement concerning chronic absenteeism in city schools.
The players
Diana Aragundi
An attorney and assistant project director at Advocates for Children who chairs the New York City Bar’s Education and the Law Committee.
Advocates for Children
An organization focused on ensuring quality education for New York City children that advocates for policy changes and provides legal aid.
The details
Aragundi identifies recurring systemic issues by maintaining direct communication with immigrant parents and families across the city. She then leverages these observations to advocate for policy changes, such as limiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement access to school facilities and expanding bilingual support, directly with the Department of Education.
Timeline
Earlier in 2026, a landmark legal suit regarding chronic absenteeism in city public schools settled.
The Home Front
This advocacy work follows the 2026 landmark legal suit regarding chronic absenteeism, which signaled a shift in how the city manages school-attendance equity. It builds on a pattern of using targeted legal challenges to force systemic adjustments to district-wide education policies.
If you are an immigrant family navigating the school system, check your eligibility for legal assistance by contacting Advocates for Children. Keep copies of all communication regarding school enrollment or special education requests in a single file to help your attorney track systemic issues.
The takeaway
Empowering families to advocate for their children requires understanding the formal legal channels available for school disputes. Families should keep a documented record of all interactions with the Department of Education to help advocates identify and address potential systemic failures.
Further reading
For more information on support resources, explore the Special Education section of our site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by AmNewYork.
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