The proposal to require parents to disclose their citizenship or immigration status when enrolling their children in school was approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Education on Tuesday.
The idea and other proposals were approved by the board in a 6-0 vote after around 20 minutes of discussion.
According to state administrative regulations, the proposal must still be accepted by the governor and legislature in order to become effective.
Ryan Walters, a Republican who serves as the superintendent of public instruction, and five other members chosen by the governor for four-year terms make up the board.
The purpose of the rule, according to Walters, was to collect information about its student population. He began the conference by denouncing the media’s “lies” and “gaslighting” on the subject.
“Our rule around illegal immigration accounting is simply that. It is to account for how many students of illegal immigrants are in our schools,” he stated.
The idea, according to immigration and education groups, will make immigrant families feel unwelcome and fearful at public schools, which are legally obligated to educate all children, regardless of citizenship status.
“All children have a constitutional right to equal access to education regardless of their citizenship or immigration status,” the National Immigration Law Center stated. “Requiring school districts to collect information about immigration status illegally chills access to this opportunity, interfering with their ability to focus on their core mission: to educate children and give all students the ability to grow, thrive, and participate fully in our democracy.”
The move comes as Republican lawmakers and President Donald Trump have promised to implement a major deportation program and crack down on unauthorized immigration.
Trump issued a directive this week permitting Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to make arrests in schools, breaking with long-standing protocol, and he signed a number of executive orders extending the authority of immigration authorities.
Under Walters, Oklahoma has also led the Republican movement to reform public education.
The Board of Education mandated last year that the Bible and the Ten Commandments be taught in every school.
And in a case from Oklahoma, the US Supreme Court agreed a few days ago to rule on whether states can deny public financing to Christian charter schools.
Walters has focused especially on immigration. Walters said earlier this month that he was suing ICE and Homeland Security officials for $474 million, claiming that they should be compensated for “the severe financial and operational strain that their failed border policies have placed on Oklahoma’s public schools.”
Walters stated last week that Oklahoma intends to cooperate with the Trump administration’s initiatives to permit ICE officials to enter schools. On Monday, he released a statement outlining his stance in more detail.
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Details of the proposal
Technically known as 210:10-1-5(d), the proposed rule change would require a child’s parent or legal guardian to present documentation of their US citizenship or legal immigration status at the time of registration.
According to the law, each school district must keep track of how many students’ parents or guardians are unable to produce documentation of their citizenship or legal immigration status “due to the lack of citizenship or legal immigration status of the student.”
The proposed rule would then require the district to provide the state Department of Education with “only information of the total number of students that lack documentation,” devoid of any personally identifying information.
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“To assess statewide and local educational needs, including without limitation, student needs, language and cultural barriers, current and future needs for English as a Second Language (‘ESL’) teachers, tutors, and tutoring programs, current and future transportation needs, programs, and anticipated future funding needs,” is the text’s description of the rule change.
“Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit, or inhibit, any child from receiving the education they are entitled to receive,” the rule’s wording continues, adding that no information should be utilized to identify a student’s citizenship or immigration status.
The proposal’s language is a little ambiguous regarding whether the student or the parent would need to provide proof of citizenship.
Walters hailed the proposed rule change and others in a statement last week, claiming that they will safeguard Oklahoma students.
The other rule amendments would mandate that schools fly the American flag and that teachers pass a writing examination modeled after the US naturalization exam.
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