Religious charter school a no-go, for now

The Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board voted unanimously Aug. 12 to rescind the contract for what would be the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter school after the State Supreme Court ruled the school’s contract was unconstitutional.

The move follows a request from Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond to the State Supreme Court to force the board to rescind the contract of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School or face contempt charges.

In its meeting, the board voted with the caveat that the school’s  contract will be immediately reinstated should the State Supreme Court or U.S. Supreme Court reverse or nullify the current order. (At its July 30 meeting, the board voted to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.)

FFRF and a coalition of groups and plaintiffs filed a separate lawsuit on July 31, 2023, challenging St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. The coalition represents nine Oklahoma residents and a nonprofit organization that is committed to protecting Oklahoma’s public school system.

Drummond said in a statement Aug. 12 that while it was “appalling” the board took so long to rescind the contract, he was pleased at the outcome.

“The proposed state-sponsored religious charter school, funded by our tax dollars, represents a serious threat to the religious liberty of all four million Oklahomans,” Drummond said in the statement.