Oklahoma’s so-called “woke” test for teachers from left-leaning states has dozens of multiple-choice questions developed by politically conservative nonprofit PragerU, according to a report from a national cable news network.
CNN said the Oklahoma State Department of Education, led by Republican state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, granted the network “exclusive” access to review the test on Friday, Aug. 15.
The Oklahoman had requested a copy of the test under the Oklahoma Open Records Act earlier in August. Hours after CNN published its report about the test, the state Education Department responded to one of The Oklahoman’s requests for a copy of the test by saying it had “no responsive documents.” The Oklahoman had asked the state agency for “a copy of the ‘assessment for teachers relocating from states with progressive education policies’ mentioned in a OSDE press release issued July 9, 2025.”
Spokespeople for Walters did not respond to a second request, made on Friday, for a copy of the test.
What questions are in Ryan Walters’ ‘woke’ test for teachers?
Since Walters became state superintendent in January 2023, he has often bypassed local and state media outlets to make major announcements concerning culture-war issues, opting instead to turn to national outlets such as Fox News. His agency has also amassed a poor record of responding to open records requests and has been publicly chastised by the Oklahoma attorney general’s office as a result.
CNN reported it reviewed parts of the “woke” test, which it said has about 50 questions, including one asking teachers to choose which chromosome pairs determine biological sex. Other questions, CNN reported, include one about why freedom of religion is important to the nation’s identity and others wanting to know the first three words of the U.S. Constitution, the two chambers of Congress and the number of U.S. senators.
Walters provided vague details about the test during an Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting on July 24.
“You’re not going to come in here and teach that there’s 27 genders. There’s boys and girls. That’s in our science standards,” Walters said as he explained the test. “You’re going to come in, and you’re not going to undermine American exceptionalism by teaching anti-American, anti-Semitic hate.”
Walters claimed the decision to implement the test wouldn’t need the board’s approval, drawing pushback from other board members. Board member Ryan Deatherage asked Walters for legal documentation as to why that would be the case. Deatherage told The Oklahoman on Friday, “I have not been provided any legal documentation to prove either way.”
More: Walters says an ‘anti-woke’ test for teachers moving to Oklahoma will be ready soon
Walters also said during the July 24 board meeting he expected the test to be implemented within two weeks.
Walters named California and New York as two states that have adopted requirements for teachers that run “antithetical” to Oklahoma’s standards. California, Walters contended, now requires educators to teach students there is no difference between genders.
State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters’ so-called “woke” test for teachers now is being used, according to a CNN report.
According to the California Department of Education’s website, students must be taught “about gender, gender expression, gender identity and explore the harm of negative gender stereotypes. Schools must also “teach about all sexual orientations and what being LGBTQ means.”
Walters has repeatedly partnered with PragerU, a California nonprofit devoted to creating educational materials meant to counter what it calls “the dominant left-wing ideology in culture, media and education.”
In 2023, he posted links to PragerU materials on the state Education Department website, and in 2024, he announced that PragerU’s leadership would help review the state’s new social studies standards, which have come under scrutiny for their multiple mentions of Christianity across grade levels.
On Friday, the Education Department sent an email newsletter touting a new “civics seal” that Oklahoma students can earn on their high school diplomas if they meet certain requirements. Joining PragerForce, PragerU’s online network of “thousands of young patriots.” counts toward one of the requirements.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ryan Walters’ ‘woke’ test for teachers will have dozens of questions
