Oklahoma Superintendent Takes Legal Action Over Migrant Student Costs
In a bold move, an Oklahoma school superintendent is taking the Biden administration to court over what he claims are the massive financial burdens caused by the influx of migrant students.
Ryan Walters, the Superintendent of Public Instruction in Oklahoma, filed a lawsuit this week, seeking $474 million in compensation for the strain that educating undocumented migrant children has placed on the state’s public schools.
Financial Impact on Oklahoma Schools
According to Walters, the state’s schools have been facing severe financial and operational strain due to federal border policies.
The lawsuit points to approximately 3,000 unaccompanied migrant children who arrived in Oklahoma between 2021 and 2023.
The financial toll of educating these students is significant, with Oklahoma’s Cost Accounting System revealing that the cost per student in the 2023-2024 school year was $13,736.
The lawsuit claims that these students have added about $41 million in additional costs to Oklahoma taxpayers since the beginning of the Biden administration.
Walters is seeking federal reimbursement to cover a range of expenses, including hiring bilingual staff, providing extra counseling, offering academic and language assessments, and funding transportation and nutritional support for these students.
Walters’ Criticism of the Biden Administration
Walters didn’t hold back in his criticism of the federal government’s role in this situation.
He argued that President Biden’s failure to secure the border has left Oklahomans to shoulder the financial burden.
“This lawsuit is about accountability,” Walters stated.
“It’s about ensuring that our children receive the quality education they deserve, free from the federal government’s failures.”
The $474 million figure, which Walters has used in his press statements, is tied to estimates of how much it will cost to support migrant students in Oklahoma.
While the amount hasn’t been officially cited in the court filings, Walters did send a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris last November, requesting the same amount for reimbursement to Oklahoma taxpayers.
Migrant Student Impact on Schools Nationwide
Oklahoma is not alone in feeling the pressure from an increase in migrant students.
Schools across the country are struggling to accommodate the growing number of immigrant children.
In Maine, teachers at Montello Elementary School in Lewiston have reported a rise in violence and bullying, with some staff members leaving due to increased class sizes and emotional stress.
Meanwhile, students at Lincoln High School in Philadelphia are eating lunch at 9 a.m.
due to overcrowding, while teachers in the school deal with issues like insufficient lockers and makeshift classroom divisions that don’t effectively block out noise.
The broader trend highlights the difficulties schools face in handling the surge in migrant students, and the ripple effects it is having on education quality and staff morale.
As communities try to manage the influx, the financial and emotional costs are becoming more visible and contentious.
Conclusion
The legal action taken by Ryan Walters shines a light on the ongoing debate over immigration policies and their effects on local communities.
As schools continue to grapple with these challenges, the outcome of this lawsuit could set a significant precedent for how migrant student costs are addressed in the future.
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