Oklahoma to Require Citizenship Verification for Students

Oklahoma’s education board has approved a controversial plan requiring parents to disclose their children’s immigration status during school enrollment, sparking a heated debate on resource allocation and potential discrimination.

At a Glance

  • Oklahoma’s Board of Education approved a plan requiring K-12 students and parents to show immigration status for enrollment
  • The proposal passed with a 6-0 vote and now moves to the state legislature
  • State Superintendent Ryan Walters cited a $474 million expenditure on educating children of illegal immigrants as justification
  • The rule may face legal challenges due to a 1982 Supreme Court ruling prohibiting denial of education based on immigration status
  • School districts must track and report the number of students without citizenship evidence to the state

Oklahoma’s New Enrollment Requirements

In a move that has ignited controversy, the Oklahoma Board of Education has unanimously approved a proposal requiring parents to provide information on their children’s immigration status when enrolling in public schools. The measure, which passed with a 6-0 vote, will now proceed to the state legislature for further consideration.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters, a driving force behind the initiative, emphasized the need for accountability in managing educational resources. “I’m going to just start off by being crystal clear our rule around illegal immigration accounting is simply that it is to account for how many students of illegal immigrants are in our schools,” Walters said.

Financial Justification and Potential Challenges

Walters cited a substantial financial burden as justification for the new rule. According to the Superintendent, the state has spent $474 million on educating children of illegal immigrants under the Biden administration. This significant expenditure, he argues, necessitates a more precise accounting of student demographics to ensure effective resource allocation.

“Our rule around illegal immigration accounting is simply that. It is to account for how many students of illegal immigrants are in our schools,” Ryan Walters said.

However, the rule may face significant legal hurdles. The 1982 Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v. Doe prohibits denying public education based on immigration status. This landmark decision could potentially derail Oklahoma’s efforts to implement the new enrollment requirements.

Implementation and Reporting

Under the new proposal, parents must declare their own immigration status or citizenship and provide documents such as a U.S. birth certificate, passport, consular report of birth abroad, permanent resident card, or other legal documents. School districts will be required to track and report the number of students without citizenship evidence to the Oklahoma State Department of Education, excluding personal information.

“If a law enforcement official comes in and asks for information, we’re legally required to provide that information. If they come and ask us for certain information, we’ll happily provide that,” Walters said.

Importantly, the proposal does not prohibit students without legal status from enrolling or attending classes. Walters has emphasized that the information collected would not be used to deny education but rather to provide data to law enforcement or the federal government if requested.

Additional Measures and Local Response

In addition to the immigration status requirement, the Oklahoma Education Board approved a rule requiring teachers to take the US naturalization test for teacher certification. This measure aims to ensure educators have a solid understanding of American history, government, and civics.

“Teachers will be required to take the US naturalization test to ensure that they understand the basics of America, American history, American government, and civics. What this does is ensure that every one of our teachers also meets the same requirements as every citizen in this country,” Ryan Walters said.

Despite the state board’s decision, some local school districts have expressed reluctance to change their current practices. Districts such as Owasso, Jenks, and Broken Arrow have stated they do not currently collect citizenship status data and will not alter their procedures unless legally mandated to do so.