Tim Walz Sparks Outrage with New Teacher Licensing Rules, Targets Christians

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is also running as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate, is facing a major scandal after reports surfaced that his administration is effectively banning practicing Christians, Jews, and Muslims from teaching in public schools. New rules set to take effect in July 2025 will require teachers to affirm transgenderism and other culturally sensitive issues, which clash with many religious teachings.

The story, first reported by The Federalist, has sent shockwaves through the nation. These new regulations, passed under Governor Walz, mandate that educators must create an environment that affirms students’ identities, including their gender identity and sexual orientation, in order to receive a teaching license. This policy doesn’t just apply to public schools; it also affects private schools that need state licenses for their teachers.

The Federalist didn’t mince words, stating that the rules will “ban practicing Christians, Jews, and Muslims from teaching in public schools.” The reason? These requirements force religious educators to go against their faith by affirming gender identities and sexual orientations that conflict with their religious beliefs. What’s more, universities that train future teachers will have to adopt these new standards or risk losing their ability to offer state licensing to their graduates.

According to the new rules, teachers must ensure that student identities—whether it’s race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation—are “historically and socially contextualized, affirmed, and incorporated into a learning environment where students are empowered to learn and contribute as their whole selves.” But for many religious teachers, affirming these identities directly contradicts their faith, putting them in a tough spot.

Doug Seaton, founder and president of the Upper Midwest Law Center, expressed serious concerns about these new regulations. He mentioned that while some Christian universities in Minnesota might comply, others are hesitant. “Some are not willing to do it [file a lawsuit] until they actually have their college programs tagged for noncompliance or their graduates actually not licensed as a consequence of not adhering to these standards,” Seaton told The Federalist.

Governor Walz has been pushing Minnesota further to the left during his time in office. He’s made diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) a central part of his agenda, despite significant opposition. His very first executive order established a DEI council, and since then, he’s been relentless in pushing for more progressive education policies. But these efforts are not without consequence.

Minnesota’s education system is in trouble. Since Walz took office, student achievement has plummeted, with fourth-grade reading scores falling below the national average for the first time ever, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. And it doesn’t stop there—Minnesota’s national education rankings have dropped from 5th place in 2018 to 17th in recent assessments.

The introduction of new social studies standards and ethnic studies into the curriculum has also sparked controversy, with critics labeling them as ideologically driven. These changes, combined with the new teacher licensing rules, are pushing the state’s education system in a dangerous direction.

As Harris and Walz hit the campaign trail, launching a bus tour in battleground Georgia, this scandal is sure to follow them. They’re set to join CNN for their first joint interview on Thursday, which will be Harris’s first in-depth interview since Joe Biden ended his re-election bid. But with the firestorm brewing over these new regulations, it’s clear that Walz’s policies are under intense scrutiny, and voters are paying close attention.