The Trump loyalty test has become the latest point of debate in Oklahoma as the state announced a new requirement for teachers from New York and California. Applicants will need to pass an exam that claims to screen out radical leftist ideology before they can work in Oklahoma schools.
Oklahoma is making headlines after its public schools superintendent revealed plans for a controversial new policy. Teachers who come from New York and California will have to pass what is being called a Trump loyalty test before they are allowed to work in the state’s classrooms. The announcement has immediately divided opinion across political and educational circles, raising questions about freedom of thought, educational standards, and the ongoing teacher shortage in Oklahoma.
Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s public schools superintendent, is the main figure behind this policy. He explained that the test will be designed and overseen by PragerU, an organization widely recognized for its conservative-leaning educational materials. According to Walters, the test is meant to ensure that teachers entering from outside states do not bring with them what he considers radical leftist beliefs.
In his statement announcing the decision, Walters stressed that protecting Oklahoma classrooms is his top priority. He directly pointed at California and New York as states that, in his view, have fostered a dangerous culture of political influence in schools. Walters declared that as long as he is in office, Oklahoma classrooms will be protected from what he labeled as radical leftist ideology.
During a follow-up interview with USA Today, Walters gave more insight into the timeline of the exam.
He confirmed that the Trump loyalty test would be introduced soon and emphasized its role in keeping classrooms focused on education rather than political messaging.
Walters also took to social media to make his point clear, saying that Oklahoma schools will return to teaching children without what he described as liberal indoctrination.
In one of his posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, Walters insisted that the reforms represent a fresh start for education in the state. He promised that Oklahoma schools would continue to promote what he called honest and pro-America teaching in every classroom. This message has resonated strongly with some supporters who believe schools in other states have shifted too far toward political agendas.
The Associated Press reported that it had reviewed sample questions from the exam, which revealed more details about what applicants might expect. One of the first questions asks test-takers to provide the opening three words of the US Constitution and then explain why freedom of religion is an important part of American identity. This question is seen as a way of measuring both basic civic knowledge and personal perspective on a core American value.
USA Today also shared several other sample questions included in the Trump loyalty test. One asks about the structure of Congress, providing multiple-choice options such as the House of Lords and Commons, Courts and Senate, Executive and Legislative, or Senate and House of Representatives. Another asks the number of US Senators, with choices ranging from 50 to 435. A third question focuses on representation in the House of Representatives, asking why some states have more members than others. The possible answers include geographic size, length of statehood, military presence, or population.
By using these types of questions, the test appears to be modeled closely on a civics exam rather than an outright ideological assessment. However, critics argue that the framing and the involvement of PragerU show the exam is far from neutral. They believe the Trump loyalty test is designed with a political purpose rather than a purely educational one.
One of the strongest voices of opposition has come from Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers. She quickly condemned the proposal, warning that it would make Oklahoma even less appealing to prospective teachers. Weingarten noted that the state is already facing a significant teacher shortage and argued that adding an additional barrier, especially one tied to political ideology, would only make the situation worse. She described the Trump loyalty test as another unnecessary obstacle for educators at a time when the state should be working to attract more teaching talent.
John Waldron, the chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party and himself a former teacher, also spoke out against the policy. He recalled his own experience moving from Washington, D.C., to Oklahoma in 1999 to begin his teaching career. Waldron explained that if he had been asked to take a similar exam back then, his first impression would have been that Oklahoma was not serious about attracting qualified teachers. He warned that the current proposal sends the same discouraging message to educators considering relocation.
Waldron also highlighted the broader issue of teacher shortages in the state. He argued that there is already a struggle to find enough educators willing to work in Oklahoma, and the reality is that teachers from blue states like New York or California are not moving there in large numbers to begin with. Adding a Trump loyalty test on top of these existing challenges, he said, does nothing to solve the real crisis facing Oklahoma classrooms.
Despite the criticism, Walters and his supporters remain firm in defending the plan. They argue that it is essential to protect students from outside influences that could, in their view, compromise traditional education. Walters has framed the policy as part of a broader effort to return schools to what he calls pro-America education, stressing the need for loyalty to American values and history.
The Trump loyalty test has quickly become a flashpoint in the ongoing national conversation about education, politics, and the role of ideology in classrooms. For supporters, the policy represents a necessary defense against what they see as a growing influence of left-leaning ideas in schools across the country. For opponents, it means an attack on academic freedom and a dangerous politicization of the teaching profession.
This debate also ties into the larger context of teacher recruitment and retention across the United States. Oklahoma, like many states, has been dealing with shortages that impact both urban and rural areas. Pay, working conditions, and political climate all influence whether teachers are willing to work in a particular state. The Trump loyalty test adds another unique factor into the equation, and many are watching to see how it will affect Oklahoma’s ability to fill classrooms with qualified professionals.
The coming months will reveal more about how the policy is implemented and what long-term impact it might have. If the exam is officially launched and enforced, applicants from New York and California will need to prepare for the additional step of proving not only their teaching credentials but also their answers to civic and ideological questions. Depending on how many teachers pass or fail, Oklahoma may find itself either bolstered by supporters who agree with the policy or further isolated in its hiring efforts.
For now, the Trump loyalty test remains one of the most discussed topics in American education policy. It has put Oklahoma at the center of a heated national conversation about politics and classrooms, raising fundamental questions about whether a teacher’s political views should have any bearing on their qualifications to educate children. As the discussion unfolds, it is clear that the issue will remain a divisive and emotional one for both supporters and critics across the country.
