Supreme Court to Hear Case on Taxpayer Funding for Religious Charter School

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in a landmark case that could permit taxpayer funding for the nation’s first religious charter school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School in Oklahoma. Backed by the Catholic Church, the proposed online school aims to provide instruction rooted in Catholic doctrine, prompting legal and public debate over the separation of church and state. Opponents argue that approving public funds for a religious charter school would blur constitutional boundaries and undermine public education, while supporters contend it would expand parental choice and educational diversity. The Oklahoma Supreme Court previously ruled the school’s creation unconstitutional, citing both state and federal law, but the case now heads to the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court, which has recently favored expanding religious rights in education. Legal experts suggest a decision in favor of St. Isidore could set a transformative precedent for faith-based charter schools nationwide. The case reflects a broader trend of efforts to insert religion into public education in several states.