Oklahoma Approves First Tax-Funded Religious School in Nation

What's the story?

• An Oklahoma school board has approved the country's first taxpayer-funded religious school, with concerned advocacy groups questioning whether the decision is constitutional.

What is the school?

• The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted 3-2 in favor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma, establishing St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.
• The board rejected the school's April application due to concerns about its governance structure and plan for special education students. The archdiocese updated and resubmitted the application, which was then approved.
• The online public charter school will open in 2024 and welcome children from kindergarten through grade 12 across the state.
• Archdiocese officials have said the school will promote the Catholic faith, including doctrine on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Criticisms

• The board's decision defies state law requiring public schools to be free of control from any religious sect.
• Critics point to the school's stance on sexual orientation and gender as violating federal non-discrimination requirements.
• Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond says the decision is unconstitutional and warned that this could lead to state-funded religion: 

"The approval of any publicly funded religious school is contrary to Oklahoma law and not in the best interest of taxpayers. It's extremely disappointing that board members violated their oath in order to fund religious schools with our tax dollars. In doing so, these members have exposed themselves and the state to potential legal action that could be costly."

• Americans United for Separation of Church and State criticized the decision, arguing that it violates the religious freedom of Oklahoma taxpayers:

"State and federal law are clear: Charter schools are public schools that must be secular and open to all students. No public-school family should fear that their child will be required by charter schools to take theology classes or be expelled for failing to conform to religious doctrines."

Support

• The Superintendent of schools in Oklahoma, Ryan Walters, is in support of the charter school.
• Supporters argue that excluding religious schools from charter funding violates the First Amendment's protection of religious freedoms.
• Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt is in support of the school:

"This is a win for religious liberty and education freedom in our great state, and I am encouraged by these efforts to give parents more options when it comes to their child's education."

Should our taxes pay for religious public schools?

—Emma Kansiz