The Oklahoma State Board of Education recently approved rule changes that would require schools in the state to gather data on students’ immigration status. Legal guardians would need to provide proof of citizenship for their students to enroll in public schools. Around 100 protesters gathered outside the OSDE building to oppose the rule change, expressing concerns about children being separated from deported parents. State Superintendent Ryan Walters defended the rule change, stating that the goal is to ensure deported parents are reunited with their children.
During a public meeting, board members inquired about how the information on immigration status would be handled, with Walters clarifying that it would be used to verify documentation for resource and personnel purposes. He reassured that students would not be deprived of educational services and that the information would be kept confidential, but could be shared with law enforcement if necessary. The rule changes will now be sent to the Oklahoma legislature for potential approval before reaching the governor’s desk for final signing.
The proposed changes have sparked controversy and debate, with concerns raised about privacy, discrimination, and the potential impact on immigrant students in the state. The decision will ultimately have significant implications for how schools in Oklahoma handle and collect information on students’ immigration status.
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