Dozens of school choice advocates gathered outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday to determine whether public funds could go directly to religious charter schools.
This is because protesters had the indications that they said “every student, every choice, every dollar, every dollar” and “learn freely”, and proposed alternatives to traditional public schools, especially for students struggling to set them.
This incident, Sebil Catholic Virtual School V. St. Isidor of Drummond challenges a ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court that cut the contract that established St. Isidor, a publicly funded Catholic online school, as a violation of state law. Now before the U.S. Supreme Court, supporters argue that exclusion of religious schools from a state-run charter program is unconstitutional discrimination.
“The court said again that the free exercise clause requires the government to treat religious and secular organisations the same. That’s not what happened here. The state simply ruled out St. Isidor because of its religious character.
Liberal Supreme Court Judicial Grills Religious Institutions with Groundbreaking School Option Cases
School Choice will uphold the rally outside the Supreme Court building on Wednesday, April 30th (Fox News Digital)
Public schools aren’t always good for students like Contiona Jones’ son. “He was very sad and very emotional every day. He was over-stimulated and the teachers were coming and going. He needed something to cater to his son’s way of learning.” “No matter what his postcode, every child should be able to go to school for them for his family.”
The judiciary is asked to weigh whether religious charter schools are entitled to the same treatment and funding as secular.
“Charter schools are not public schools like traditional schools,” said Thomas Fisher, executive vice president of Edchoice. “They are designed to have curricula other than those offered by public schools. The first amendments protect the free movement and do not prohibit them from exercising their religion.”
The question is whether schools should be considered public schools, primarily as extensions of state governments, and are required to be secular under the establishment clause, or whether they should be considered private companies or contractors.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, a Republican running for governor, filed a lawsuit against the school, saying the establishment of St. Isidor violated both the Oklahoma Constitution and the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution. Public funds should not be used to support religious institutions, he stressed, arguing that such a move could set a dangerous precedent for government recognition of religion.
Supreme Court hears discussions about school choice cases involving Catholic Charter Schools
Advocates of St. Isidor hold signs outside the Supreme Court. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
The Oklahoma Supreme Court agreed to Drummond’s assessment and held that the charter school must remain a public institution and non-denominational. The court’s decision highlighted concerns that recognition of St. Isidor as a religious charter school could lead to state-sponsored religious indoctrination and undermined the neutrality of public education.
“The key here is that this school is its own school. It’s not a state school. It’s a charter school. It has the ability to set its own curriculum.”
He called the incident “a great test to see opportunities for similar schools across the country.”
“We’re really excited about this opportunity.”
Erica Donald, chairman of the American First Policy Institute’s Center for Educational Opportunities, reflected sentiment and framing the case as a potential expansion of the “free market for education.”
The loyal American Rev. Shannon Fleck speaks as Pastor Paul Brandeis Larshenbush, who listens to the press conference outside the Supreme Court on April 30, 2025.
“St. Isidor is just one example of many high quality options that could be chartered for families,” Donald said. “The Supreme Court has defeated discrimination against the religious system in other contexts. If we can provide high-quality education, families should be able to access those options with public funds.”
Donald emphasized that choice remains with the family. “Parents do not need to choose a charter school they are religiously affiliated with, but they should choose to do so as long as financial and academic accountability measures are met.”
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She also pointed to bipartisan support for school choices across the country.
“We’ve seen polls showing that 70% of Republicans, nearly 70% of Democrats and independents all support school choices. The movement has momentum and will never stop.”
The expected court ruling by the end of June could have a thorough impact on charter school policies and religious freedom jurisprudence law across the country, and comes when 45 US currently approve charter schools.
Breanne Deppisch of Fox News contributed to this report.
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