Oklahoma’s education system has found itself at the center of a heated national debate after rolling out a controversial new certification exam for teachers relocating from California and New York. The so-called "America First" test, unveiled on August 18, 2025, is the latest and perhaps boldest move in a series of conservative education reforms enacted by the state’s leadership. The exam, which requires teachers not only to demonstrate their professional credentials but also to align with Oklahoma’s conservative educational standards, has drawn praise from some quarters and sharp criticism from others.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, the driving force behind the initiative, has made no secret of the underlying motivation. "Here in Oklahoma, our academics are going to be grounded in fact," Walters told The New York Post. "We’ve seen states like New York and California go so radical with gender theory and Marxist indoctrination, they are warping the minds of young people … We need our teachers to agree to not be woke indoctrinators in the classroom." Backed by Republican Governor Kevin Stitt, Walters has framed the test as a safeguard against what he calls "radically liberal" curricula being imported into Oklahoma classrooms.
The 50-question exam, developed in partnership with conservative media company PragerU, covers a range of topics that reflect Oklahoma’s recent education policy shifts. According to CNN, sample questions include basic civics—such as which chromosome pairs determine biological sex, the first three words of the U.S. Constitution, and the number of U.S. senators—as well as queries on American history, the foundations of religious freedom, and the structure of Congress. Walters emphasized the importance of teaching the foundations of American history and patriotism, stating, "We want our students to be patriots." He added pointedly, "You’re not gonna lie to kids about the influences Christianity had on American history. We want you to teach history appropriately."
But the test’s content doesn’t stop at civics and history. It also delves into hotly debated topics, including the "biological differences between males and females," a reflection of Oklahoma’s resistance to what Walters calls "radical woke gender theory." The state’s high school history standards now include material on alleged irregularities in the 2020 presidential election, the supposed security risks of mail-in voting, and the contested theory that COVID-19 originated from a laboratory leak. At the same time, lessons on George Floyd’s murder and the Black Lives Matter movement have been stripped from the curriculum. In June, Walters ordered that the Bible be taught in public schools as a "necessary historical document," though he clarified that scripture itself would not appear on the certification test.
For Walters and his supporters, these changes are about "protecting classrooms from indoctrination" and ensuring that Oklahoma’s schools remain firmly grounded in their view of American values. The superintendent’s approach has received high-profile support, including praise from former President Trump. However, the policy has also ignited a firestorm of opposition from educators and unions both within Oklahoma and in the states targeted by the new requirement.
The American Federation of Teachers president, Randi Weingarten, was blunt in her assessment, calling the exam "a huge turn off" at a time when classrooms across the nation face chronic staffing shortages. Cari Elledge, president of the Oklahoma Education Association, went further, accusing Walters of orchestrating "a political stunt to grab attention" and warning that such measures deter qualified educators from entering the profession. She also pointed out that Oklahoma law already requires recognition of out-of-state certifications if candidates meet baseline standards, making the new test, in her view, unnecessary and discriminatory.
The California Teachers’ Association president, David Goldberg, echoed those concerns, dismissing the certification as "hyper-political grandstanding" that does little to solve the real challenges facing educators and students. Critics argue that the test is both discriminatory and unlawful, and that it represents a deep politicization of education that risks worsening Oklahoma’s already significant teacher shortage.
Indeed, the timing of the new requirement has puzzled many observers. Like much of the country, Oklahoma is struggling to retain teachers. An estimated 30,000 certified educators in the state are currently not working in classrooms, with many citing political tensions as a key deterrent. Walters himself acknowledged that the state has seen an influx of about 500 new teachers through a signing bonus program designed to attract "the highest quality" educators. However, he cautioned that "any radical woke gender theory that goes against biology and science" will not be tolerated in Oklahoma classrooms. "We’ve begun to be concerned with what we’re seeing from teachers moving from blue states," he said.
At present, only new teachers from California and New York are required to take the "America First" test, but Walters has indicated that the requirement could soon be extended to newcomers from up to eight additional states. While the exact number of new teachers from the two coastal states is unclear, an aide told CNN that it was a "fairly large" number of applicants seeking teachers’ licenses.
For many, the "America First" test is emblematic of a larger battle over education in America. Walters and his allies see schools as the frontline in a broader fight against what they perceive as "liberal indoctrination." They argue that measures like the new certification test are necessary to preserve traditional values and ensure that students receive an education rooted in "fact." On the other side, opponents warn that Oklahoma’s experiment risks politicizing the classroom and exacerbating a teacher shortage that already undermines student learning.
Whether the policy can withstand legal challenges remains to be seen. Teachers’ unions in Oklahoma, California, and New York have condemned the exam and may pursue legal avenues to block its implementation. In the meantime, Oklahoma’s classrooms—once a quiet battleground over funding and curriculum—have been thrust into the national spotlight, caught in the crossfire of America’s deepening culture wars.
The coming months will reveal whether Oklahoma’s bold experiment becomes a model for other conservative states or a cautionary tale of politics overshadowing pedagogy. For now, the state’s educators, students, and parents are left to navigate an education landscape that feels more polarized—and more politicized—than ever before.
