Oklahoma is taking bold action to ensure classrooms are free from leftist ideology by requiring new teachers relocating from liberal states to pass an assessment developed in partnership with conservative organization PragerU. The test, now mandatory for educators from California and New York, must be passed to receive a teaching certificate in the state.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters told CNN that the goal is to guarantee teachers “are not pushing a left-wing agenda on to our kids.” Walters said any educator who fails the assessment will not be certified to teach in Oklahoma schools this year. “We will not allow these leftists’ plans and schemes to take place here in Oklahoma,” Walters declared.
Despite outrage from Democrats and CNN labeling the test “controversial,” sample questions show it is rooted in common sense and basic civic knowledge. One question asks teachers to identify the chromosome pairs that determine biological sex. Another asks why freedom of religion is central to America’s identity. Other questions cover the opening words of the Constitution, the structure of Congress, and the number of U.S. Senators.
Democrats claim the test is a “loyalty test” and an “insult” to the teaching profession. Oklahoma Democrat Party Chairman John Waldron insisted teachers do not “hate America” and argued no such educators exist. However, Walters countered that states like California and New York require teachers to promote ideas “antithetical to our standards and values as a state.”
PragerU designed the assessment in partnership with Oklahoma’s Department of Education, aligning it with the state’s standards while comparing it to certification requirements in New York and California. Walters stressed that Oklahoma classrooms must teach “biological differences between males and females, period” and rely on primary source documents to teach U.S. history rather than political agendas.
Critics also attacked PragerU for not being an “accredited university,” though trust in higher education has collapsed nationwide. A Gallup poll shows confidence in universities has dropped by more than 20 points since 2015, reflecting frustration with left-wing dominance in academia.
PragerU’s influence in education continues to grow. Its curriculum has already been approved for use in at least nine other states, sparking outrage from progressives who oppose the organization’s unapologetic defense of America’s values. With President Donald Trump’s 2024 landslide victory ushering in a mandate to end the woke era, Oklahoma’s move signals a firm stand against left-wing indoctrination in schools.
