The United States Supreme Court has decided to hear an appeal in a case centered on whether Oklahoma can approve the creation of the nation’s first religious charter school.
In an orders list released Friday afternoon, the Supreme Court agreed to the combined cases of Oklahoma Charter School Board, et al. v. Drummond, Attorney General of Oklahoma and St. Isidore of Seville School v.Drummond, Attorney General of Oklahoma.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Education Law Center, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation emailed a joint statement provided to The Christian Post, urging the U.S. Supreme Court “to affirm” an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling against the creation of the school.
“Oklahoma taxpayers, including our plaintiffs, should not be forced to fund a religious public school that plans to discriminate against students and staff and indoctrinate students into one religion,” they stated.
Jim Campbell, chief legal counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, said in a statement emailed to CP that he and his organization hope to see the high court rule in favor of the Catholic charter school.
“The U.S. Constitution protects St. Isidore’s freedom to operate according to its faith and supports the board’s decision to approve such learning options for Oklahoma families,” said Campbell.
“We’re pleased the U.S. Supreme Court will hear this case, which is of the utmost importance to families and children in Oklahoma and throughout the country.”
In June 2023, the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted 3-2 to greenlight the charter application for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.
The educational entity would be overseen by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa.
However, progressive groups and Republican Attorney General Gentner Drummond objected to the approval of the school, with Drummond filing a complaint against the board in October 2023.
Additionally, liberal advocacy groups filed suit, naming as defendants the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, individual board members, the Oklahoma Department of Education, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and Saint Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School, Inc. READ MORE
