Oklahoma public schools are preparing to roll out a controversial new requirement for teachers relocating from California and New York. Starting later this year, applicants must pass a certification exam designed to prove their alignment with the state’s conservative values before being allowed to teach in Oklahoma classrooms.
The test, according to state officials, will apply to teachers of all subjects and grade levels. Whether an educator is teaching math, English, or science, they will need to demonstrate knowledge of “the biological differences between females and males” and affirm Oklahoma’s official American history standards. Among those standards is the claim that Democrats stole the 2020 presidential election from Donald Trump—a statement that has been widely disputed by independent fact-checkers and dismissed by courts across the country.
The exam will be created and administered by PragerU, a nonprofit organization best known for producing online videos and educational material from a conservative perspective. Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s superintendent of public schools and a staunch supporter of conservative reforms, defended the plan as necessary to protect students.
“As long as I am superintendent, Oklahoma classrooms will be safeguarded,” Walters said. He argued that schools in California and New York have promoted what he calls “radical leftist ideology,” and that Oklahoma has a responsibility to filter out teachers who do not align with what he describes as “Oklahoma standards.” The new exam is being branded the “America First certification.”
To give educators an idea of what to expect, the state released five sample questions from the 50-question test. These included: identifying the first three words of the U.S. Constitution, explaining why freedom of religion is vital to America’s identity, and outlining what Walters called “the importance of recognizing God’s role in America’s founding.” Walters confirmed that the full test would be finalized and distributed “very soon.”
Sharp Divide Over the Measure
Critics have denounced the plan as a politically motivated “loyalty test.” The American Federation of Teachers, one of the nation’s largest teachers’ unions, strongly condemned the initiative. Union president Randi Weingarten labeled it “a MAGA loyalty test” and warned that it would make Oklahoma’s teacher shortage even worse by discouraging qualified educators from moving to the state.
“Oklahoma should be focused on raising teacher pay, reducing class sizes, and ensuring kids have resources—not demanding that teachers pass an ideological purity test,” Weingarten said in a statement.
The backlash highlights a deepening rift in U.S. education over what should be taught in schools and who gets to decide. While conservative leaders in states like Oklahoma and Florida have pushed reforms targeting curriculum and teacher certification, critics say these measures are driving talented educators away and politicizing the classroom.
Supporters Applaud the Move
Despite criticism, supporters of the test argue it is a necessary step to restore “honest, pro-America education” and keep political agendas out of classrooms. Walters and his allies maintain that students should learn history and science through a conservative lens that reflects Oklahoma’s cultural values.
To attract educators willing to relocate, the state is offering financial incentives of up to $50,000 in bonuses. Walters claims the new certification process has already generated interest among teachers frustrated with conditions in other states. “We are seeing a surge of educators reaching out, ready to move to a state that respects traditional values,” he said.
The Bigger Picture
Whether the new certification exam strengthens or strains Oklahoma’s public school system remains to be seen. Supporters view it as a bold defense against what they perceive as creeping progressive ideology in education. Opponents warn it risks alienating teachers, politicizing curriculum, and worsening an already dire teacher shortage.
For now, the looming rollout of the “America First certification” ensures that Oklahoma will remain at the center of the national debate over education, ideology, and the future of America’s classrooms.