Supreme Court to hear case on Oklahoma Catholic charter school

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case of a religious charter school in Oklahoma

seeking public funds. The Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board approved funding for the

nation's first Catholic charter school, St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School

which was set to open in the fall of 2024. However, Oklahoma Attorney General Gettner

Drummond sued in 2023, claiming the religious charter school broke state and federal law

The state's Supreme Court then ruled the school unconstitutional because of its religious affiliation

Supporters say the Catholic charter school would boost school choice and uphold religious freedom in Oklahoma

Charter schools are publicly funded by and subject to government performance standards

However, they operate independently from public school districts and set their own curriculum

The charter school and the school board petition SCOTUS to review the case

They argue that the state does not compel or encourage St. Isidore's religious status or conduct

Oklahoma's Attorney General argues the Catholic Charter School would violate First Amendment rights

because the school's contract requires state approval before it can teach any material revisions to Catholic doctrine mandated by the Pope

This unconstitutional scheme to create the nation's first state-sponsored religious charter school

will open the floodgates and force taxpayers to fund all manner of religious indoctrination

including radical Islam or even the Church of Satan. My fellow Oklahomans can rest assured that I will always fight to protect their God-given rights

and uphold the law, Drummond said in a statement from October 2024 regarding the legal challenge

Oral arguments are scheduled for April 30th, and a decision is expected in June or July

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Lauren Keenan. For more on this story, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit san.com