Red conservative state expresses concern over Californians introducing 'progressive, liberal beliefs.' It is focusing on teachers as a potential threat.

In the heart of the United States, Oklahoma has made waves with a new educational policy that is causing ripples across the nation. The Oklahoma State Legislature has recently mandated a unique teacher exam, aimed at ensuring educators adhere to certain viewpoints, a move that has sparked controversy and legal challenges.

The exam, developed by the Oklahoma State Department of Education in collaboration with PragerU, a nonprofit advocacy group promoting conservative views, includes questions about gender, civics, and American history. Teachers must answer all 50 multiple-choice questions correctly to pass, with an example question being: "Why is freedom of religion important to America's identity?"

This decision comes at a time when Oklahoma's public schools are not required to teach sex education, including gender. In 2021, the state passed HB 1775, a bill that restricts the teaching of certain concepts related to race and gender in public schools and universities. The bill has been challenged by the ACLU as "unconstitutional censorship."

Meanwhile, California, a state known for its progressive education policies, has seen a slight population rise in 2024 after three years of decline. The California Healthy Youth Act, which took effect in 2016, requires comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education for students in grades 7 through 12, including discussions of gender and sexual orientation.

As the teacher exam in Oklahoma is set to be rolled out in the next few weeks, the state is also considering requiring the test for teachers from other states, including Massachusetts, Maine, and Minnesota. The number of teachers that would be mandated to take the test in Oklahoma remains unclear.

The Oklahoma schools system has launched a $50,000 signing bonus program to help recruit new educators for some of the most difficult to fill jobs. Meanwhile, a program in Tulsa, Oklahoma called Tulsa Remote has attracted over 3,600 remote workers since its inception in 2019, with over 539 of them being from California. California is the second-most common origin state for applicants to Tulsa Remote, behind Texas.

Experts are divided on whether new developments in California's housing crisis are welcome or if certain types of housing are more needed. A Public Policy Institute of California survey found that many Californians who leave are favoring nearby states such as Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon; larger states such as Texas; or locations without income taxes.

The emigration of Californians to other states has done little to shift political demographics in their new homes, a fact that continues to shape the national discourse on education policies and their implications. The creation of the exam in Oklahoma is unprecedented in the American education system, as it forces teachers to adhere to a certain viewpoint to get a job, a move that raises questions about the future of education and freedom of thought.

Red conservative state expresses concern over Californians introducing 'progressive, liberal beliefs.' It is focusing on teachers as a potential threat.