Dissenting voices at OSDE's proposed rules hearing

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Many dissenting voices spoke out Friday during a public hearing regarding the proposed rules that are coming from the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE).

"I'm calling on Walters to immediately resign from office," said Representative Arturo Alonso-Sandoval (D-Oklahoma City). "He is overwhelmingly wrong constitutionally."

The representative was one of many who specifically went to speak out against the proposed rule that would essentially require students to provide proof of citizenship.

Lawmakers have, for almost two months, spoken about how the proposed rule could scare off many families from enrolling altogether.

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All day people spoke out for and against the many proposed rules. The rules proposed include crossing out “civil rights” from a portion of the rules, getting rid of the Multicultural Equity Advisory Committee, ensuring the U.S. flag is flying on campus for districts, and more.

"I'm opposed to the rule because this rule, like Ryan Walters himself, is dangerously ignorant," said another person opposed to it.

There is a federal law that prohibits schools from asking about a student's citizenship status.

"I have a copy of Plyler V. Doe that I brought with me, and I have a copy you can have," said a woman who dissented against the proposed rule as she handed out copies of the Supreme Court case that essentially determined it wasn't allowed.

Other dissenting votes mentioned the amount of current litigation facing OSDE and said that more will come as a result of that specific rule.

Just this week, Walters filed a lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security leaders for $474 million.

"A sum he likely knows he'll never receive," said another dissenting voice.

The rest of the day was spent giving public comment time to other proposed rules, including the crossing out completely of "Civil Rights" from the current rules.

"Reading the proposal, I was in absolute shock," said a teacher in regards to that proposed rule. "I wouldn't be here maybe if it weren't for the civil rights that so many people before us fought for."

Another proposed rule some spoke out about was the rule surrounding the requirement of the U.S. flags on campus for districts. Most districts News 4 has contacted regarding this issue have said they have a U.S. flag already on campus.

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Another public comment period given for the proposed rules was about getting rid of the Multicultural Equity Advisory Committee.

There were only dissenting voices on that, but there were only around three speakers.

Even though the day was filled with mostly dissenting voices on most of the rules proposed. OSDE sent news agencies a statement regarding today's events saying in part, "Today's hearing is a great step forward in the process that will lead to new rules in place to protect Oklahoma students."

The rules are headed to the Oklahoma State Board of Education to possibly get approved, and then they will head to the legislature to have the final decision.