Oklahoma's foray into "woke-proofing" its classrooms has left an indelible mark, even if the experiment is now short-lived. The state's former education superintendent, Ryan Walters, oversaw a teacher assessment designed by PragerU, a conservative media company, with the goal of rooting out "woke indoctrination." The America-First Assessment, which launched in August 2025, was touted as a way to screen out liberal teachers and prevent what Walters called "blue state indoctrination" from entering Oklahoma classrooms.
The exam's format is unique - it consists of 34 multiple-choice questions that ask about the U.S. Constitution, government, religious liberty, history, and Supreme Court cases. While Walters claimed the test was designed to assess a teacher's professional knowledge, critics argue it resembles a "MAGA loyalty test" rather than a legitimate assessment of teaching skills.
What's most striking about the exam is that it's impossible to fail - if you don't know an answer, you can simply guess until you get it right. This format has led some observers to wonder whether the test is designed to weed out teachers with progressive views or simply those who aren't familiar with conservative talking points.
The America-First Assessment was short-lived, with Walters' replacement, Lindel Fields, rescinding the exam and the Bible mandate for Oklahoma schools in October 2025. However, the controversy surrounding the test highlights a broader trend: the politicization of state education systems. As PragerU CEO Marissa Streit has pitched the exam as an option for other "pro-America" states, it's clear that this is just the beginning.
For education researchers and experts, the implications of this experiment are profound. As Emery Petchauer, a visiting professor at Columbia University, notes, "This is not just about teacher licensure; it's about who gets to shape our children's minds." The expansion of PragerU into teacher assessments marks a significant shift in the role of private media companies in education policy - and it's likely that we'll see more of this in the future.
The exam's format is unique - it consists of 34 multiple-choice questions that ask about the U.S. Constitution, government, religious liberty, history, and Supreme Court cases. While Walters claimed the test was designed to assess a teacher's professional knowledge, critics argue it resembles a "MAGA loyalty test" rather than a legitimate assessment of teaching skills.
What's most striking about the exam is that it's impossible to fail - if you don't know an answer, you can simply guess until you get it right. This format has led some observers to wonder whether the test is designed to weed out teachers with progressive views or simply those who aren't familiar with conservative talking points.
The America-First Assessment was short-lived, with Walters' replacement, Lindel Fields, rescinding the exam and the Bible mandate for Oklahoma schools in October 2025. However, the controversy surrounding the test highlights a broader trend: the politicization of state education systems. As PragerU CEO Marissa Streit has pitched the exam as an option for other "pro-America" states, it's clear that this is just the beginning.
For education researchers and experts, the implications of this experiment are profound. As Emery Petchauer, a visiting professor at Columbia University, notes, "This is not just about teacher licensure; it's about who gets to shape our children's minds." The expansion of PragerU into teacher assessments marks a significant shift in the role of private media companies in education policy - and it's likely that we'll see more of this in the future.
... I mean, come on, who designates an entire assessment around just 34 questions? Sounds like a buncha hooey to me 
. And let's be real, if you're gonna guess your way through it, does that really count as assessing teaching skills? 
It's all just too suspiciously... partisan 
.
I swear, it's just about pushing their own ideology onto the next gen. And now we're gonna see more of this in other states? Yikes 
, this whole thing just feels like a slippery slope.
. I mean, who wants to know if their teachers are familiar with conservative talking points just because they're teaching in a red state? It's not like our schools should be about promoting critical thinking and open-mindedness... that sounds like a total waste of time 
.
. But at the same time, I'm like, totally concerned about where this kind of thing is headed 
. And what's with this "MAGA loyalty test" vibe? 
It just feels like they're tryin' to weed out anyone who don't conform to their ideology. The whole thing is kinda fishy, if you ask me 
. I'm not sayin' there's nothin' wrong with bein' conservative, but when it starts influencin' what we teach our kids, that's a red flag for me 
.
. I mean, the format is super weird too - if you don't know an answer, just guess until you're right? It's like they want to see how far teachers will go to fit in with their worldview 
. I'm all for protecting kids' minds and making sure we're not forcing them into one particular ideology