Oklahoma wants to bring to light federal ‘guidance’ influence over state education.
Late last month the Oklahoma House Education Oversight Committee advanced HB 2151, a bill requiring the state education department to publicly disclose all federal guidance documents it receives.
Rep. Rob Hall, the bill’s sponsor, argues that federal agencies use these documents to improperly influence state policy without going through the legal rulemaking process. Prompted by a 2023 Biden administration guidance citing Oklahoma City Public Schools for racial discrimination, the bill aims to increase transparency and ensure public access to federal directives shaping state education.
“This legislation is critical because it guarantees the public’s right to know exactly what guidance the federal government is handing down to our state’s education system. Oklahoma parents, educators and policymakers deserve full visibility into the directives shaping their schools,” said Hall.
Read more here.
— The Federalism Beat