Oklahoma’s top education official is pushing forward with a controversial new requirement for out-of-state teachers, one that he says will protect students from political “indoctrination.”
Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters has confirmed that his office is preparing to roll out a 50-question certification exam aimed specifically at applicants coming from California and New York; two of the nation’s most populous and Democratic-led states, The Guardian reports.
According to Walters, the new assessment is designed to measure teachers’ alignment with what he describes as Oklahoma’s values. He told USA Today and CNN that the exam will include questions on topics such as freedom of religion, U.S. history, and what he calls “the biological differences between males and females.”
Walters has branded the test the “America First” certification, borrowing a slogan frequently used by President Donald Trump. The superintendent argued that teachers from California and New York are often trained under systems that “do things antithetical to our standards,” and said Oklahoma must ensure new hires are prepared to “teach what is required in the state of Oklahoma.”
Reports indicate the exam doesn’t just focus on history and civics but also touches on more polarizing subjects. USA Today noted that some questions allude to false claims about the 2020 presidential election; specifically the notion that fraud deprived Trump of a second term, despite extensive evidence and court rulings confirming Joe Biden’s victory.
Walters did not deny those elements, instead stressing that the assessment will help prevent outside educators from “indoctrinating kids.”
While the certification will initially apply only to teachers relocating from California and New York, Walters said it could eventually extend to educators from as many as eight other states.
The conservative media group PragerU is reported to have played a role in developing the test, according to The Independent. Walters insisted that the measure is not about exclusion but about protecting Oklahoma students.
“We’ve seen a dramatic increase in teachers wanting to come to Oklahoma,” he told USA Today, adding that the certification is a safeguard against what he views as incompatible political ideologies. The state has also been offering signing bonuses of up to $50,000 in an effort to address teacher shortages; a challenge facing districts nationwide.
But critics argue that the new certification will do the opposite of what Walters intends, warning it could discourage teachers from relocating to Oklahoma.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, called the test “a huge turn-off” and blasted Walters for politicizing the classroom.
“Teachers in this country are patriotic, and suggesting they’re not is insulting,” she said, accusing Walters of stoking culture wars rather than focusing on core academic needs. She added that Walters seems more interested in auditioning as “MAGA in chief” than in serving as “educator in chief.”
Others within the state have voiced similar concerns. Cari Elledge, president of the Oklahoma Education Association, dismissed the plan as a “political stunt” designed to grab headlines rather than address systemic issues.
“When political ideology plays into whether or not you can teach in any place, that might be a deterrent to quality educators attempting to get a job,” she warned.