Oklahoma Launches Controversial Teacher Test Designed to Block ‘Woke’ Applicants

Educators and parents raise alarm as new certification exam crafted by Prager University reshapes Oklahoma’s public school hiring

Natalie C. Frank, Ph.D August 16, 2025

Oklahoma State Capital; Caleb Long/Wikipedia [CC BY 2.5]

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Oklahoma education officials have taken a significant step into the national culture wars by requiring certain new teaching applicants to pass a test developed by the conservative media organization PragerU. State Superintendent Ryan Walters has declared that the assessment, first administered today, is intended to screen out what he calls “woke indoctrinators” or liberal teachers from the classroom.

The initiation of this effort comes as schools across Oklahoma prepare to reopen for the academic year, forcing some incoming educators to face a brand-new and highly politicized requirement before they can step foot in a classroom.

“This is a clarion call for us to protect Oklahoma’s children from leftist schemes,” said Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s superintendent for public instruction. “We will not allow these leftists’ plans and schemes tOklo take place here in Oklahoma. They are trying to warp the minds of our kids to turn them into social justice warriors, instead of kids that are getting the most of their god given talents to go get a good job, to go live a fulfilling life.”

The exam roughly 50 multiple-choice questions that measure ideals consistent with the Make America Great movement. It was developed by PragerU after Walters’ office shared Oklahoma’s certification standards with the group. Walters said the test was then compared against requirements for teachers in California and New York, states that he frequently criticizes for liberal education policies.

Sample questions touch on topics such as gender and biological sex, freedom of religion, constitutional knowledge, and “American exceptionalism.” Walters said the assessment reflects “the values of Oklahoma parents” and ensures teachers commit to what he describes as traditional standards.

“You’re gonna teach that there’s biological differences between males and females, period,” Walters said. “You’re going to teach American history and use primary source documents, not pushing a left-wing agenda on to our kids.”

Marissa Streit, CEO of PragerU, said the test includes material designed to “undo the damage of gender ideology that is forced and taught” in other states. She said the company responded directly to Walters’ request for a more “wholesome” certification tool aligned with Oklahoma’s political climate.

Education historians say Oklahoma’s adoption of a PragerU exam is unprecedented. Jonathan Zimmerman, a University of Pennsylvania professor who studies the history of education, called it a" watershed".

“It’s official and it’s institutionalized,” Zimmerman said. “It’s actually giving Prager an explicit role.”

Unlike previous collaborations where outside organizations simply provided optional classroom content, Oklahoma’s move places PragerU in the gatekeeping position of deciding who is allowed to teach. This shift raises concerns not only about political bias but also about academic legitimacy, since PragerU is not an accredited university or recognized educational body.

For now, the exam targets educators relocating from California and New York, though Walters indicated it could expand to as many as eight additional states. Applicants who do not pass the test will not receive Oklahoma teaching certification for the 2025 school year and will not be allowed to teach in Oklahoma public schools.

The timing is particularly challenging, as many districts begin classes this week. Some candidates received word only days before that they would be required to pass the new assessment. Walters’ office declined to say exactly how many applicants must take the test but described the number as “fairly large.”

Critics worry the policy will worsen Oklahoma’s already severe teacher shortage. According to national education rankings, Oklahoma consistently falls near the bottom in student achievement and resources, with districts struggling to attract and retain qualified instructors.

John Waldron, Democratic Party chairman and former social studies teacher, blasted the initiative. “You don’t sign up to teach schools because you hate America, that’s not who’s teaching in our classrooms,” he said. Waldron dismissed the assessment as a “loyalty test” from “an unaccredited agency” and said it feels like “an insult to our profession.”

At a recent Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting, board members pressed Walters on whether he had the legal authority to impose the test without their review or approval.

Walters refused to provide details, insisting, “It’s up to me. . . Every teacher that teaches in the state of Oklahoma will have to have a certificate that goes through my office. It has my signature on it. So those will not move forward until this is done."

Democratic lawmakers anticipate legal challenges. In the meantime, offices report calls from concerned parents and educators questioning whether the test will unfairly block qualified teachers from serving students.

Founded in 2009 by conservative radio host Dennis Prager, PragerU has built its brand on animated videos and digital content promoting limited government, traditional values, and skepticism toward mainstream science on issues like climate change. With more than one million social media followers and claims of five million daily video views, the group has grown into a formidable influence operation.

Its educational videos, often narrated in kid-friendly formats, cover topics ranging from American history to financial literacy. However, many historians and scientists have criticized the content for inaccuracies and ideological slant. For instance, one video asserts that “slavery was a part of life all over the world. It was America that began the conversation to end it,” a statement that historians widely reject.

Despite these controversies, PragerU’s materials have been approved for use in public schools in at least ten states, including Florida, Texas, and Arizona. Oklahoma’s new certification test represents the group’s most direct institutional foothold in teacher licensing.

PragerU’s rise coincides with broader Republican efforts to reshape public education along cultural conservative lines. Former President Donald Trump has praised the organization publicly, appearing at a PragerU gala at Mar-a-Lago last December.

“I want you tonight to think about all the good thing you are doing,” Trump told attendees. “You are a spectacular group, and you are so successful. I have many friends in the crowd.”

Earlier this year, the Department of Education collaborated with PragerU on “The Road to Liberty,” an exhibit now displayed in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House. The exhibit blends traditional portraits of Founding Fathers with QR codes linking to AI-generated videos that recite scripted messages, including one by a digital John Adams declaring, “Facts do not care about our feelings.”

While the exhibit includes disclaimers that it does not represent official government endorsement, it underscores how deeply PragerU has penetrated mainstream political institutions.

Supporters of Walters’ initiative argue that the assessment defends Oklahoma students against what they see as liberal overreach in education. They view the test as a necessary tool to ensure teachers align with parental expectations in a state dominated by conservative voters.

But critics counter that the policy amounts to ideological purity testing, narrowing the pool of educators at a time when schools desperately need qualified staff. They also point to broader implications for academic freedom. If states begin conditioning certification on political alignment, they argue, the classroom could become a battleground where facts are contested not on scholarly evidence but partisan loyalty.

Beyond the headlines, the stakes are real for students. While adults argue over culture wars, children face crowded classrooms, fewer teachers, and limited resources. Education experts worry the political focus on ideological screening will distract from important issues such as low reading scores, outdated facilities, and lack of mental health support.