Oklahoma Requires PragerU Teacher Test Amid Controversy

Oklahoma has partnered with conservative organization PragerU to require out-of-state teachers, especially those relocating from California and New York, to pass a newly introduced teacher qualification test before certification. Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters supports the test as a means to block what he terms "radical leftist ideology" from classrooms and ensure teachers align with American values and the state's curriculum standards. The multiple-choice test includes questions on basic government, citizenship, biological sex, and gender identity, designed to reflect common sense and basic facts rather than political content. The test has sparked controversy, with critics labeling it a political loyalty test that may worsen the state's teacher shortage by deterring qualified applicants. PragerU CEO Marissa Streit defended the initiative as a standard expectation set by education boards to reflect community standards. The test and its questions are publicly available, and the public can also take it on PragerU's website.