![St. Isidore had argued that the stay was for legal reasons, not to continue operation of the school at the moment. St. Isidore had argued that the stay was for legal reasons, not to continue operation of the school at the moment.](https://publisher-ncreg.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pb-ncregister/swp/hv9hms/media/20230802120832_93b00c28b99b3b6ce3d73c2c26f4a62acacf464d7c308a79264234caba038588.jpg)
Oklahoma Orders School Board to Rescind Catholic Charter Contract After Court Ruling
Last week Drummond ordered the statewide charter board to comply with the court’s ruling.
Last week Drummond ordered the statewide charter board to comply with the court’s ruling.
In the U.S., charter schools are free, publicly funded schools that have greater flexibility in their operations and management than traditional public schools.
The move comes after Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed legislation requiring schools and colleges that receive public funding to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.
In a dissent to the state high court’s majority opinion, Justice Dana Kuehn argued that St. Isidore’s would be a partner of the state, not a government entity, and thus the state denying funds to St. Isidore’s because it is religious would violate the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.
In October 2023, the state board approved the charter contract for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, putting the school on the path to becoming the first religiously affiliated charter school in the United States.
The U.S. Supreme Court announced in January that it would review the case.
Supporters of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School argue that refusing to allow the school to operate as a charter school is religious discrimination.
Since his initial conviction, two independent investigations have uncovered serious problems with his trial, including allegations of police misconduct and what were reportedly incorrect instructions given to the jury in the case.
The attorney general’s lawsuit came after another lawsuit filed by several state residents and interest groups to block the sponsorship and funding for the Catholic charter school.
The attorney general’s office further argued that the state risks losing more than $1 billion in education dollars from the federal government.
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