Oklahoma official seeks Turning Point USA chapters in all high schools, threatens accreditation penalties

Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters on Tuesday announced a plan to require Turning Point USA chapters in every public high school in the state, with the threat of revoking credentials if districts refuse to comply. In a post on X, Walters said, "Radical leftist teachers’ unions have dominated classrooms for far too long, and we are taking them back." He described the partnership as a way to engage students in "free speech, open dialogue about American greatness, and American values."

He framed the plan as a formal partnership with Turning Point USA and said the initiative is intended to give students a platform for civic engagement and constructive discussion about national priorities without partisan filters. The move comes as TPUSA has seen a surge of interest nationwide, with the organization reporting more than 54,000 requests in the past six days to start a chapter or join an existing one.

Walters told KOKH-TV that districts that refuse to host a TPUSA chapter would face repercussions, including potential loss of accreditation and other sanctions. "I mean, we would go after their accreditation. We would go after their certificates. So yeah, 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. This is not the first move Walters has made to push the Oklahoma school system to the right. Last year, he appointed Chaya Raichik, the creator of Libs of TikTok, to the state’s library media advisory board. "Chaya is on the front lines showing the world exactly what the radical left is all about — lowering standards, porn in schools, and pushing woke indoctrination on our kids," Walters said at the time.

TPUSA’s leadership has remained in flux since the group’s founder, Charlie Kirk, was killed in a shooting at Utah Valley University. Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, took over leadership of the organization; it is unclear whether she will continue her husband’s sharply conservative posture or steer the group in a different direction.

In Oklahoma, Walters has signaled a broader, more aggressive approach to school policy. He has suggested permitting federal immigration authorities into public schools and has called for Bible content to be incorporated into curricula for grades five through 12, framing these measures as reaffirmations of American values. Supporters say such steps aim to bolster civic literacy and national identity, while opponents warn they could politicize classrooms and marginalize students with diverse backgrounds.

The state’s education record provides context for the controversy. Oklahoma ranks near the bottom in public education in national comparisons, with analyses from U.S. News and the Nation’s Report Card showing persistent gaps in reading, writing and math. Critics contend the push to introduce a partisan student group and align curricula more closely with a national political agenda could exacerbate those gaps and erode trust in schools.

Observers say the plan highlights the growing influence of national conservative groups on state education policy, including campus and high school activism that crosses traditional boundaries between politics and schooling. If district leaders approve and implement TPUSA chapters, officials say implementation specifics—such as oversight, student eligibility, and faculty sponsorship—will be critical. Legal and regulatory questions could follow as districts weigh accreditation standards, student rights, and potential conflicts with existing district policies.