The number of non-English-speaking students transferring from Prince William County schools to neighboring school systems climbed again last month as families flee the crackdown on illegal immigrants.

The vast majority, 623 of about 760 departing students, have moved to neighboring Fairfax County schools, while 80 selected Arlington and 58 chose Alexandria.

State and local school officials are trying to get a handle on the impact of a Prince William County policy directing the police to inform federal immigration authorities when illegal immigrants are questioned for traffic violations and minor crimes. Supervisors are considering a pivotal vote on whether to fund the multimillion-dollar policy Tuesday amid a budget crunch.

The transfers from Prince William County to Fairfax County are nearly triple the 241 students who completed the same transition between September and late March last year, and officials say the immigration policy contributed to the increase.

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Critics, including Capital Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition director Kathy Doan, contend the crackdown has driven hundreds of legal immigrants, including the U.S. citizen children of illegal immigrants, out of the county as families seek jurisdictions with less aggressive enforcement tactics.

Virginia School Superintendent Billy Cannaday held a regional conference call with top officials from 13 school divisions earlier this month to get a grasp on the extent of the regional migration.

Cannaday wanted to determine whether the families of immigrants were leaving education altogether, which he said appears not to be happening, or transferring to neighboring districts, which is.

"While [Prince William Schools Superintendent Steven] Walts informed us that ... enrollments had dropped 718 students since Sept. 30, 2007, it appears that most of these students may have enrolled in Fairfax, Arlington or Alexandria public schools," Cannaday wrote in a memo April 4.

School officials now say 759 students left the school system through March 31, up from a preliminary 718.

While the number of students learning English has eroded throughout the school year, it follows a 1,546-student increase last summer. Teachers are still educating 800 more English language learners than last school year.

Supporters of the illegal-immigration policy, including Chairman Corey Stewart, say the drop in school enrollment will save the county $6 million in fiscal 2009 and result in at least 40 fewer teaching positions next school year.

Leaving Prince William

Limited English proficient students: 

» 623 students to Fairfax 

» 80 students to Arlington 

» 58 students to Alexandria

dgenz@dcexaminer.com