August 20th, 2025
Oklahoma’s New “America First” Teacher Test: What You Should Know
Hi there!
There’s a big shake-up happening in Oklahoma education, and it’s sparking a lot of conversation. The state has rolled out a brand-new “America First” test for teachers—and it’s unlike anything we’ve seen before.
↗️ So, what’s this test all about?
If you’re a teacher moving to Oklahoma from states like California, New York, or Maine, you’ll now have to take a 50-question exam before getting certified. The state teamed up with PragerU to design it, and the idea (according to officials) is to make sure teachers coming in from “blue states” aren’t bringing what they call woke ideology into Oklahoma classrooms.
The test covers a mix of questions:
-
Civics basics (How many U.S. senators are there? What are the first three words of the Constitution?).
-
Biology questions (like identifying chromosomes that define male and female).
-
Religious freedom and U.S. history with a strong emphasis on patriotism and traditional values.
↗️ Why is Oklahoma doing this?
State Superintendent Ryan Walters says it’s about protecting kids from political agendas in the classroom. He’s been clear: schools should be teaching patriotism, America’s founding principles, and the role of Christianity in shaping history—not progressive ideologies.
This move fits into a bigger pattern we’ve seen from Walters lately. He’s:
-
Pushed to get Bibles into classrooms as required material.
-
Directed schools to cover the 2020 election “discrepancies”in social studies lessons (even though courts upheld the results).
-
Been vocal about keeping gender ideology and “woke” content out of public education.
↗️ The pushback
Of course, not everyone’s on board. Critics argue this test isn’t really about civics knowledge—it’s about political gatekeeping. They worry it sets a precedent where teacher certification depends on ideology, not teaching ability. Supporters, on the other hand, say it’s a smart way to keep classrooms focused on facts, history, and science rather than cultural debates.
↗️ Why it matters
For teachers, this adds a brand-new hurdle to moving to Oklahoma. For parents, it signals the kind of curriculum and classroom culture their kids might encounter in the years ahead. And for the rest of the country? It’s a snapshot of how education has become one of the biggest battlegrounds in America’s culture wars.
↗️ Bottom line
Whether you see this as a bold step toward protecting kids—or a controversial political move—it’s clear Oklahoma is making a statement: classrooms should reflect traditional American values. Expect this to fuel more national debates on where education is headed.
