OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma board’s approval of what would be the nation’s first publicly funded religious school is unconstitutional and must be rescinded, the state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
The high court ruled on the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board’s decision 3-2 votes last year Approving the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma’s request for the Saint Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School violates the Oklahoma and U.S. constitutions as well as state law.
“Under Oklahoma law, a charter school is a public school,” the court wrote. “As such, a charter school must be nonsectarian.
“However, Saint Isidore will evangelize the Catholic school curriculum as long as it is sponsored by the State.”
The online public charter school would have been open to students across the state, from kindergarten through 12th grade, and part of its mission would have been to evangelize its students in the Catholic faith.
The case is being closely monitored because school supporters believe recent US Supreme Court decisions indicated that the court is more open to public funds allocated to religious entities.
A group of parents, faith leaders, and a public education nonprofit sued to stop the establishment from school.
Oklahoma’s Republican governor, Kevin Stitt, and state superintendent Ryan Walters supported the board’s approval of the school.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
