On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti Inside PragerU’s conservative push into American classrooms
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Feb 18, 2026 Sarah Schwartz, an Education Week reporter on K-12 curriculum, and Adam Lotz, a history and education professor at Binghamton University, discuss PragerU’s push into schools. They examine PragerU Kids vs flagship videos, state approvals and political backing, contested portrayals of historical figures, AI-generated Founders displays, and how packaged ideological materials reach classrooms.
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PragerU's Ambitious K-12 Expansion
- PragerU aims to place conservative videos in public schools by getting content state-approved.
- Jill Simonian said 11 states have approved PragerU materials and the goal is all 50 within five years.
Slick Shorts With Conservative Stars
- PragerU's flagship five-minute videos target older students and adults with slick pro-market, anti-DEI messaging.
- They also leverage conservative personalities like Ben Shapiro and Charlie Kirk to amplify reach.
Approval Isn't Adoption
- State approval means teachers can use the materials confidently, but approval doesn't equal classroom use.
- Adam Lotz warned teachers might assume approved = trustworthy without deeper vetting.