New Education Policy in Oklahoma Requires PragerU Certification for Teachers

In Oklahoma, teachers relocating from more liberal states must now pass assessments created by the conservative organization PragerU to gain certification for teaching. This initiative is part of a broader effort to eliminate left-leaning influences in education. Predictably, CNN and other liberal commentators are reacting strongly, criticizing the move as detrimental to the teaching profession.

According to Oklahoma’s top education official, there is a widespread disbelief among some, including CNN and Democratic leaders, that conservative organizations could influence educational content. However, the tests are not about politics but rather about preventing the imposition of liberal values in classrooms.

Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s superintendent of public instruction, stated, “Every teacher in Oklahoma must obtain a certification that passes through my office.” He emphasized that without completing the evaluation process, educators wouldn’t get the necessary certificates for teaching in public schools this year.

Walters asserted that leftist ideologies have no place in Oklahoma schools, claiming they aim to lead children away from learning and into social activism. He believes that educators should focus on nurturing students’ talents to prepare them for successful futures.

Currently, Oklahoma requires tests for teachers moving from states like California and New York, and there’s potential for this assessment to expand to eight additional states in the future.

CNN described PragerU’s approach as “controversial,” though this seems to reflect a misunderstanding of how conservative organizations are increasingly accepted in establishing educational curricula aligned with traditional American values.

Some of the assessment questions posed in the report lend credibility to its claims of objectivity, indicating they aren’t heavily politicized but rather grounded in basic factual knowledge. For example, one question asks about the chromosome pairs that determine biological sex. Another simply inquires about the importance of religious freedom to American identity, and some request fundamental knowledge like the first three words of the Constitution or the number of U.S. senators.

John Waldron, the Democratic president of Oklahoma, suggested that teachers don’t join the profession out of disdain for the country and insisted no such educators exist in schools. If that’s the case, educators should find it fairly straightforward to pass the PragerU assessment given its sample questions.

Waldron criticized the test as a “loyalty test” from an unaccredited organization, labeling it inhumane for the teaching profession. Interestingly, the PragerU assessment was developed in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Education to meet stated educational standards.

Walters indicated that the assessment compares Oklahoma educators to those in California and New York, noting that it helps ensure teachers explicitly adhere to the values and standards needed in Oklahoma.

Despite claims regarding PragerU’s lack of certification, confidence in traditional higher education institutions appears to be waning among Americans. A recent Gallup poll indicated a dramatic rise, about 22 percentage points, in those expressing little to no confidence in accredited universities since 2015.

Some interpretations of the partnership between Oklahoma and PragerU suggest a broader movement influenced by previous administrations aimed at reshaping the U.S. education system. However, the report neglects to mention that former President Donald Trump won the 2024 election significantly, securing widespread support across various demographics.

The findings reflect a potential shift away from progressive educational reforms, signaling a growing consensus among many Americans toward traditional values. Already, PragerU’s educational materials are being incorporated into curricula across multiple states, triggering backlash from those who favor a more liberal approach to history and education.