Oklahoma will soon require teachers from California and New York to pass a new “America First” certification exam before working in state public schools. The test, developed with PragerU, will measure whether incoming teachers align with Oklahoma’s conservative education standards.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters said the exam is needed to keep teachers from “indoctrinating kids” with values “antithetical” to Oklahoma’s. Questions will cover U.S. history, constitutional basics, and biology, while also reflecting new state curriculum standards that promote Trump’s false 2020 election fraud claims and the contested theory that COVID-19 originated in a lab.
Teachers’ unions blasted the move. Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers said the test is a “huge turn off” amid a teacher shortage, accusing Walters of pushing “culture wars” over classroom basics. The Oklahoma Education Association argued Walters has “no legal authority” to block certified teachers based on ideology.
Despite criticism, Walters said the policy ensures only “pro-America” educators enter classrooms. The test is expected to launch the week of Aug. 18.
Sources
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
