A new proposal that will require parents to provide proof of citizenship or immigration status for enrolling students in Oklahoma public schools received unanimous approval by the State Board of Education Tuesday as officials aim to bolster President Trump’s immigration policies.
The new rule, which still needs support from lawmakers and the governor, wouldn’t prohibit children without legal status from attending school but would require districts to keep track of students whose parents or guardians fail to provide the requested documentation.
That information, excluding personal information and names of parents, would then be sent to the State Department of Education.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters, who spearheaded the initiative, said the district is taking action to help schools acquire information about where resources and personnel are needed to ensure success for every student.
“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 during Tuesday’s vote, where he also disputed…