Supreme Court to Hear Case on Religious Charter School Funding
The case centers on Oklahoma's attempt to establish the nation's first taxpayer-funded Catholic charter school, testing the boundaries of church-state separation.
- The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, which seeks public funding as a religious charter school in Oklahoma.
- The Oklahoma Supreme Court previously ruled against the school, citing the Establishment Clause and state laws requiring public schools to remain secular.
- Proponents argue that excluding religious charter schools from public funding violates their First Amendment rights to free exercise of religion.
- Opponents, including civil liberties groups, warn that allowing religious charter schools could undermine public education and erode the separation of church and state.
- The decision could have nationwide implications, potentially paving the way for other religious entities to seek public funding for charter schools.