Oklahoma's top education official, Ryan Walters, is introducing a new certification exam for teachers from California and New York, designed to assess their alignment with the state's conservative values. The 50-question test, dubbed the 'America First' certification, will cover topics such as biological differences between males and females, freedom of religion, and US history, according to reports.
The test, developed by the conservative media company PragerU, also includes questions related to unsubstantiated claims of electoral fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Walters stated that the assessment aims to ensure teachers from Democrat-led states are not indoctrinating students, and it may expand to applicants from up to eight states in the future.
The move comes amid a teacher shortage in Oklahoma, which is offering bonuses of up to $50,000 to attract educators. Walters claims a 'dramatic increase' in teachers wanting to move to the state, but critics argue the new requirement will deter quality educators.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, called the test a 'huge turn-off' and accused Walters of prioritising culture wars over education. Cari Elledge of the Oklahoma Education Association labelled it a 'political stunt' that distracts from real issues.
The announcement follows controversy over allegations that Walters displayed nude images on his office TV during a meeting, which he denied. An investigation concluded the TV was playing a 1985 film containing nudity, ruling out intentional misconduct.
