Nation’s First Religious Charter School In The Works
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case concerning Oklahoma’s decision to approve the nation’s first religious charter school. The case, Oklahoma Charter School Board, et al. v. Drummond and St. Isidore of Seville School v. Drummond, examines whether public funding can be used to support a religious charter school, sparking debate over the separation of church and state.
Several organizations, including Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the ACLU, oppose the school’s establishment, arguing that taxpayers should not be forced to finance a religious institution that may discriminate and promote a specific religious doctrine. On the other side, Alliance Defending Freedom advocates for the school, claiming that the Constitution protects religious schools’ ability to operate in line with their faith.
In June 2023, Oklahoma’s Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved the charter for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, which would be operated by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa. This approval drew backlash from progressive groups and Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who subsequently filed a lawsuit to challenge the board’s decision.
By June 2024, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled against the school, stating that using public funds to support religious schools violated the state constitution. The court raised concerns about potential threats to religious freedom if public money were used for religious education.
Despite the board later rescinding the charter in response to the ruling, they appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking clarification on whether religious entities can engage in public education programs without infringing on constitutional boundaries.