Oklahoma Governor Rejects Controversial Immigration Proposal, Shakes Up Education Board

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has rejected a controversial proposal from the state Board of Education that would have required families to disclose their immigration status when enrolling children in school. He criticized the board’s move as “needless political drama” and took steps to reshape the state's education leadership.

The proposal emerged amid heightened efforts by former President Donald Trump and Republican leaders to crack down on undocumented immigration, including mass deportation plans. It would have mandated parents to provide proof of citizenship or legal immigration status, with schools required to report the number of undocumented students—though without revealing personal details.

A Heated Debate Over Education and Immigration

Education and immigration advocates swiftly condemned the plan, questioning its constitutionality and warning it would discourage immigrant families from sending their children to school.

“After months of headlines followed by disappointing [National Assessment of Educational Progress] scores, it’s clear that our education infrastructure has fallen prey to needless political drama,” said Stitt, a Republican and Trump supporter.

The latest NAEP results—often referred to as the "Nation’s Report Card"—showed Oklahoma students performing below the national average in math and reading. Stitt emphasized that improving education should be the state's top priority.

“If we want to be the best state for business, we need to make sure our kids have a path to success,” he said. “It’s time for fresh eyes and a renewed focus on our top ten goals.”

Governor Reshapes the Education Board

In response to the controversy, Stitt announced he would replace three of the five state Board of Education members, subject to Senate approval. This decision came after the board, led by Superintendent Ryan Walters, approved the immigration proposal, which required legislative and gubernatorial approval to take effect.

“When I see our NAEP scores not improving, when I see kids being used as political pawns for some stunt, it’s just frustrating,” Stitt said in a press conference on February 12.

While he praised Trump’s border security efforts, Stitt insisted that using children to score political points was unacceptable.

Superintendent Walters Fires Back

Superintendent Ryan Walters sharply criticized Stitt’s decision, calling it “disappointing but not surprising.”

“Governor Stitt has joined the swampy political establishment that President Trump is fighting against,” Walters posted on X (formerly Twitter).

He announced the formation of a “Trump Advisory Committee” with two of the ousted board members, vowing to fight back against what he called the “liberal DC swamp” now influencing Oklahoma politics.

Meanwhile, immigration advocates praised Stitt’s rejection of the policy.

“We should all heed Governor Stitt’s call that children feel safe at school and not be used as political pawns,” said Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center. “This rejection is a victory for parents, educators, and advocates across Oklahoma.”

Oklahoma’s Shifting Education Landscape

Under Walters’ leadership, Oklahoma has led Republican efforts to reshape public education.

• Last year, the Board of Education mandated that all schools include the Bible and Ten Commandments in their curricula.
• The U.S. Supreme Court is currently reviewing whether Oklahoma can fund religious charter schools.
• Walters filed a $474 million lawsuit against former Department of Homeland Security and ICE officials, blaming border policies for straining the state’s public schools.
• Oklahoma has pledged to cooperate with Trump-era efforts to allow ICE agents into schools.

Legal and Historical Challenges

Critics argue that requiring parents to disclose their immigration status is unconstitutional and would deter students from attending school.

Tasneem Al-Michael, a DACA recipient and representative of the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice, said the proposal was not about gathering data but about discouraging undocumented students from accessing education.

“The goal here is to keep as many undocumented students as possible out of public schools, despite federal law protecting their right to learn,” he said.

The 1982 Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe ruled that states cannot deny free public education to children based on immigration status, citing the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In 2011, Alabama attempted a similar measure, requiring schools to collect immigration data. The law faced legal challenges and was eventually struck down in a settlement.

What’s Next?

With Stitt’s rejection of the proposal and the reshuffling of the Board of Education, the future of Oklahoma’s education policy remains uncertain. However, one thing is clear—education and immigration will remain hot-button issues in the state’s political landscape.