Oklahoma Requires PragerU Political Ideology Test for Out-of-State Teachers Amid Shortage

Oklahoma is set to implement a new certification exam for out-of-state teachers called the "America First Test," developed in partnership with the conservative media nonprofit PragerU, aiming to exclude what Superintendent Ryan Walters describes as "radical leftist ideology" from classrooms. Walters specifically targets teachers coming from liberal states like California and New York, emphasizing a desire to safeguard Oklahoma schools from what he calls a "woke, Marxist agenda." Supporters view the test as a means to ensure educators uphold traditional American values, while critics argue it acts as a political litmus test that prioritizes ideology over teaching ability. The test includes questions on basic civics and American values, though its full contents have not yet been disclosed. This initiative follows other controversial moves by Walters, including attempts to place Bibles in classrooms and revise the teaching of the 2020 election in favor of President Trump’s unfounded fraud claims. Meanwhile, in Texas, concerns have arisen over a high school quiz that asked students about their political beliefs on issues such as abortion and border walls, with the school district defending the exercise as a way to help students understand political ideologies without publicizing individual answers.