Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Oklahoma’s Religious Charter School

The Supreme Court has agreed to review an Oklahoma Supreme Court decision that blocked the opening of St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School, a publicly funded Catholic charter school. Oklahoma’s top court ruled 7-1 last year that such a school would violate the First Amendment’s prohibition on government establishment of religion, as charter schools are considered public and must remain nonsectarian.

The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved the Catholic Church’s application for St. Isidore in 2023, with plans to evangelize students through a Catholic curriculum. Opponents, including parents and the ACLU, argued public funds cannot support religious schools.

Supporters, including Alliance Defending Freedom, contend that denying the school’s operation infringes on religious freedom protections. The case highlights ongoing tensions over public funding for religious entities and will likely be argued in late April, with a decision expected by early summer.