Oklahoma – Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt recently expressed strong support for the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board and St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Charter School as the case *Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond* heads to the U.S. Supreme Court. The case will address whether a religious charter school, specifically St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, can receive public funding and be available to all students under the First Amendment. The legal dispute could have far-reaching implications for religious freedom and educational choice across the United States.
Governor Stitt was joined by over fifty elected officials, religious groups, educational institutions, and research organizations in submitting amicus briefs to the Supreme Court, backing the right of parents to choose religious educational options for their children. The amicus briefs emphasize the importance of religious liberty and parental choice in education, a sentiment echoed by the governor in his remarks.
“The State of Oklahoma is steadfast in her support of religious liberty for all and an innovative educational system that expands choice for all,” Governor Stitt stated. “For over 30 years, Oklahoma Governors have supported parental school choice. The reason is simple: Oklahoma’s greatest asset isn’t our oil and gas – it’s not our football teams – it’s not the aerospace and defense industry. It’s our kids.”
Key supporters of the case include Professor S. Ernie Walton, Associate Dean at Regent University School of Law, and the National Religious Broadcasters, both of whom argue that the state’s involvement in education should reflect the rights of parents to choose how and where their children are educated. Other organizations, such as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, emphasize the historical significance of religion in education and challenge the notion that religious affiliation should disqualify a school from public funding.
Wolff Family representatives argued that the case is pivotal for parents asserting their right to choose how to educate their children, whether through homeschooling, private, or charter schools. “This case is important to every parent who cares to assert their right to determine and choose to educate their children,” they said.
The Manhattan Institute and World Faith Foundation also contributed their perspectives, highlighting the need for educational choices that reflect parents’ values and beliefs, including those related to religion. “Charter schools expand educational choices and facilitate the exercise of constitutional rights,” said the World Faith Foundation.
Acting U.S. Solicitor General Sarah M. Harris weighed in, stating that charter schools do not perform functions that are exclusively reserved to the state and should therefore not be restricted from receiving public funding based on religious affiliation.
Other legal advocates, such as the American Center for Law and Justice and the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, stress that excluding religious institutions from public benefits violates well-established principles of religious tolerance and respect. These briefs argue that no establishment of religion occurs through the inclusion of religious charter schools in public funding programs, as long as the institutions meet non-sectarian criteria.
The Oklahoma State Board of Education and several charter school organizations also support the decision to grant St. Isidore’s application, arguing that the exclusion of religious institutions from charter school opportunities is in direct conflict with long-standing U.S. legal precedents that uphold the rights of private institutions.
As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to review this case, the outcome could reshape the future of charter schools, religious liberty, and public education funding in Oklahoma and across the nation.
