Oklahoma, which currently ranks dead last in education nationwide, is now making conservative political activism a formal part of its high school landscape. This week, State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced that every public high school in the state will be required to establish a chapter of Turning Point USA — the far-right youth group founded by the late Charlie Kirk.
The move follows Kirk’s killing earlier this month on a college campus, which sparked what Turning Point says is a massive wave of interest in launching new chapters across the country. But Oklahoma is going further than any other state — not just encouraging, but mandating them.
“We will be putting TPUSA on every high school campus in Oklahoma,” Walters said in a press release. “Charlie Kirk inspired a generation to love America, to speak boldly, and to never shy away from debate. Our kids must get involved and active. We will fight back against the liberal propaganda, pushed by the radical left, and the teachers unions. Our fight starts now.”
While Turning Point says it promotes civic engagement and conservative values, critics are pointing out the irony of a state that ranks 50th in public education now focusing its energy on political clubs — not classrooms.
Walters says students will only need three members to start a chapter of Club America, Turning Point’s high school program. From there, the group helps them find a teacher sponsor, gain school recognition, and provides an “activism kit.”
The push, Walters claims, is part of a broader effort to fight “woke indoctrination” in public schools. In a video posted to X, Walters went further, accusing “radical leftists” of “dominating classrooms” and “lying to our kids about American history.”
“They fight parents’ rights, they push parents out of the classroom and they lie to our kids about American history,” he said. He added that Turning Point clubs will allow students to engage in “dialogue about American greatness, a dialogue around American values.”
Compliance… or Else
When asked what would happen if a school refused to form a chapter, Walters made clear there would be consequences.
“They would be in danger of not being a school district if they decided to reject a club that is here to promote civic engagement,” he said. “Everything would be on the table in that scenario.”
That threat didn’t sit well with some educators. Oklahoma teacher Nadine Gallagher told local news outlet KOCO, “If students wanted to start a club, I’m all for it. But I don’t like forced anything.”
Turning Point USA says it has received over 120,000 new inquiries to start chapters following Kirk’s death. “Even accounting for attrition and duplicates, we are on the cusp of having a TPUSA or Club America chapter in every HS and College campus in America,” said spokesman Andrew Kolvet.
Kirk, who was shot at a college speaking event, was a polarizing figure known for far-right rhetoric. He repeatedly pushed the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, said Islam was “a threat to America,” and claimed that “in urban America, prowling Blacks go around for fun to go target white people.”
Turning Point chapters are known for organizing around conservative causes like gun rights, free speech, and voter registration — but also for more controversial actions, including publishing “professor watchlists” and organizing campaigns against school board members with liberal views.
Culture War in the Classroom
This latest move is part of a broader pattern for Walters, who has drawn national attention — and backlash — for pushing religion and conservative politics into Oklahoma schools.
He has attempted to require students to watch a video of him praying. He pushed for a Catholic charter school that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down. He’s handed out Donald Trump-branded Bibles and staffed state education committees with high-profile right-wing activists, including the founder of Libs of TikTok and the president of the Heritage Foundation.
He’s also pushed for out-of-state teachers from liberal areas to take an “America First” certification before being allowed to teach in Oklahoma and lobbied to include 2020 election fraud conspiracies in the state’s curriculum.
Earlier this month, Walters put out a press release threatening to fire teachers who criticized Kirk after his death. His office claimed to have received 224 reports of “defamatory comments” made by school staff, and identified 70 certified teachers for potential disciplinary action. He also said some schools were under investigation for not lowering flags or observing a moment of silence.
“Any teacher posting defamatory and egregious comments will NOT be teaching in Oklahoma classrooms,” the release said.
Oklahoma students, teachers, and parents are now watching as political priorities take center stage — even as the state’s education system struggles with underfunded schools, low test scores, and widespread teacher shortages.
Watch Walters’s announcement in the clip below:
I am very excited to announce a partnership with @TPUSA to establish chapters in ALL Oklahoma high schools. Radical leftist teachers’ unions have dominated classrooms for far too long, and we are taking them back. pic.twitter.com/3sihJX3sUv
— Ryan Walters (@RyanWalters_) September 23, 2025
