Gov. Stitt. Ryan Walters back religious charter school with Supreme Court brief filings
Caroline MolloyGov. Kevin Stitt and state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters have filed separate briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, which is seeking to become the nation’s first religious online charter school.
St. Isidore and the Statewide Charter School Board both have asked the nation’s highest court to review an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that the board cannot enter into a contract with St. Isidore. The state court ruled such an agreement violates both state and federal law, is unconstitutional and must be voided.
The case is being watched closely because of its religious overtones and potential for a precedent-setting ruling. A charter school, by law and definition, is considered a public school. Should St. Isidore and the board prevail in their appeal, it would mean public money would flow to a religious school. St. Isidore is operated by the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond sued the state board that oversaw charter schools after it approved the contract. That lawsuit led to the state Supreme Court ruling now being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
