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Aug 18, 2023

Oklahoma board approves application for religious charter school

The board voted 3-2 to approve an application to create the St. Isidore of

The board voted 3-2 to approve an application to create the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Catholic Charter School as an online public charter school

The board voted 3-2 to approve an application to create the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Catholic Charter School as an online public charter school

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The board voted 3-2 to approve an application to create the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Catholic Charter School as an online public charter school

The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board on Monday voted to approve an application for the nation's first publicly funded religious charter school.

The board voted 3-2 to approve an application by the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa to create the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Catholic Charter School as an online public charter school.

| MORE | OKC's Catholic archdiocese asks to create virtual charter school

In February, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City asked to create a virtual charter school that would be paid for with Oklahomans' tax dollars. Gov. Kevin Stitt and State Superintendent Ryan Walters showed their support for the virtual charter school, with Walters saying it's the kind of school choice parents want.

"This decision reflects months of hard work, and more importantly, the will of the people of Oklahoma," Walters said Monday in a news release. "I encourage the board to approve this monumental decision, and now the US's first religious charter school will be welcomed by my administration. I have fought for school choice in all forms, and this further empowers parents. We will make sure every Oklahoma parent has the opportunity to decide what's best for their child."

| MORE | Gov. Kevin Stitt issues letter showing support for religious charter schools in Oklahoma

Opponents argued when the idea of the religious virtual charter school was introduced that it would violate constitutional protections that separate church and state. On Monday, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued a statement that the board's decision was unconstitutional and that legal action is likely after a contract for the school is signed.

| MORE | State Superintendent Ryan Walters supports virtual Catholic charter school in OKC

"The approval of any publicly funded religious school is contrary to Oklahoma law and not in the best interest of taxpayers," Drummond said in the statement. "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."

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