Oklahoma educators who refuse to teach about the Bible may lose their teaching licenses, according to Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters.

Walters issued a memo requiring schools to teach students in grades five through 12 about the Bible’s influence on America’s founding and historical figures, and to stock a Bible in every classroom.

Teachers who do not comply could face license revocation, subject to a vote by the Oklahoma State Board of Education, which Walters chairs.

The mandate has been criticized by civil liberties and religious groups, including the Jewish Federation of Tulsa and the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, who argue that it promotes Christianity in schools.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State accused Walters of imposing his religious beliefs on students, NBC News has reported.

Walters defended his directive, stating that the education department had been working on it for nine months and focused on the Bible because it is “under assault.”

He expressed confidence that the order would withstand legal challenges, citing support from Supreme Court justices appointed by former President Donald Trump.

A spokesperson for the Oklahoma attorney general’s office noted that current law already permits the use of Bibles in classrooms, and that Walters’ memo lacks legal authority to mandate content.

Written by B.C. Begley