Superintendents react to proposed counting of students' citizenship

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — State Superintendent Ryan Walters' former boss and current Millwood School Superintendent voiced concern Wednesday after approval of a rule counting student's citizenship.

"I just want to be clear, immigrant is not synonymous with criminal," said Superintendent Dr. Cecilia Robinson-Woods.

The rule came with much scrutiny before and after it was approved Wednesday. It still has a few hurdles before there's a chance of it becoming official.

On Wednesday afternoon the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA) sent an email out to its members making it clear what the rule will mean.

In the email, they informed members that the key points of the rule states:

• It would require parents to provide proof of the student’s citizenship status at enrollment.
• It would require districts to report to SDE a count (but not personally identifiable information) of students whose parents did not provide citizenship documentation. 
• Failure of a parent/guardian to provide proof of citizenship would not preclude a district from enrolling a student. The district has a constitutional mandate to provide free and appropriate education for every child in the district.

"Two rules causing the most concern regard a proposed requirement to collect information about students’ citizenship status and requiring teachers to pass a citizenship test as a condition of certification," the email read.

Walters cleared up some confusion after Tuesday's board meeting by telling members of the media, "We're asking for documentation on both. Yes, the child and the parents."

He told the board that the information is "simply data gathering and information gathering."

But when asked what he would do with that information, he said he would send it to authorities and the Trump Administration: "It is a felony to not work with law enforcement on an investigation."

Supt. Robinson-Woods said that she doesn't know how providing proof of citizenship would show that a family member is a criminal (outside of showing their immigration status).

"I don't know that. The information we receive wouldn't tell me who they are," said Robinson-Woods.

Federal law currently forbids schools from asking about a student's immigration status during enrollment.

Supt. Walters sent an email to parents and guardians Wednesday about the rule, saying:

"Each school district will be required to report the total number of students who cannot provide documented proof of U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status at the time of enrollment. This measure is intended to provide greater transparency and will help us better understand and support the needs of our schools and students."

Robinson-Woods serves on several boards around the city and many are centered around social services. She said many have asked her about the rule and what it could mean.

"These are services that are important for the care of themselves or their children or their aging parents. And they're afraid to access care because they don't want to have to disclose whether or not they're receiving it and if somebody may be undocumented," said Robinson-Woods. "We have construction happening on campus and even though the construction company is required to ensure that the people they have working on sites here meet certain levels of immigration, they're still scared."

The rule provided by OSDE stated that districts would be required to report a count of students whose parents do not provide documentation.

Would you report them if this rule passed the legislators and the governor?

"We don't currently have a process that would allow for me even to collect that information. When parents enroll students, I ask for information on children and that's it. So, unless the state is going to mandate a process and outline a process, obviously we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Right now, I don't have any reason to say I could even comply with anything like that because we don't have such a process."

Robinson-Woods said that she will follow federal law until something else changes.

News 4 reached out to sixteen other districts and their superintendents. Most responded and said that it is a waiting game. No district said that they have plans to track undocumented students and their families.

As we have always maintained, every child has the right to a quality public education. This right is protected under federal law, and OKCPS will continue to uphold it while adhering to state and federal regulations.

Oklahoma City Public Schools

Moore Public Schools is aware of the recent federal Executive Orders and OSBE rule changes that were approved yesterday. The OSDE rule changes now require consideration and approval by the state legislature. In the meantime, the priority at MPS is to continue to provide an exceptional education for our students and a safe learning environment.

Moore Public Schools

We are following and going to continue our normal procedures for enrollment. With nothing being approved by legislation and it being too early to make any decisions, we will not be adding any additional documentations.

Yukon Public Schools

The proposed rule changes are still under consideration and have not yet been finalized or approved by the state legislature or Governor. In the meantime, Norman Public Schools remains committed to providing an exceptional educational experience and a safe learning environment for all students.

Norman Public Schools

Right now we do not track any of the immigration status of our students. We are aware of the proposed rule passed yesterday and will follow it as it moves through the legislature and its process of review. At this time I can't see going back and trying to collect this information for all of our students and we don't want to imply or pigeonhole individuals within our communities. We will follow the laws as written and the guidance of our legal council.

Coyle Public Schools

We will review the new rules only when and if they complete the process for full approval.

Mid-Del Public Schools

We plan to wait for the final outcome of the rules process before we make any decisions on proposed rules. In the meantime, we will focus on educating all of our students daily.

Bethany Public Schools

What happens if school districts leave out citizenship documents when enrollment starts?

News 4 reached out to an OSDE spokesperson to answer that question and did not hear back.