Oklahoma Proposes ‘America First Test’ for Teachers From New York and California

Education|Oklahoma Proposes ‘America First Test’ for Teachers From New York and California

Oklahoma will require teachers coming from New York and California to pass a test to combat what it calls “woke indoctrination” before being hired, according to the state's public schools superintendent.

Its America First Test is designed to filter out teachers with views contrary to Oklahoma values, said Ryan Walters, the state superintendent. It is meant to ensure that educators promote American exceptionalism and help protect against what he called “radical gender ideology.”

“If you come to Oklahoma, you will abide by our state law, you will abide by our standards and teach those in the classroom,” said Mr. Walters, a Republican, in an interview on Tuesday.

The test, designed by PragerU, a conservative nonprofit, is the latest attempt by education officials in Oklahoma to push the state’s education system to the right.

Critics of Oklahoma’s decision argued that the test was more a means to garner attention from the president and his supporters than effect real change. Historically, only a handful of teachers each year move there from New York and California.

“His priority should be educating students,” said Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, one of the country’s largest teacher’s unions, “but instead, it’s getting Donald Trump and other MAGA politicians to notice him.”