Supreme Court hears major challenge to religious liberty and school choice

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday in a case involving the nation’s first religious charter schools and whether they are eligible for state funding despite their religious teachings. The case centers around St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School in Oklahoma, a virtual Catholic charter school that has been seeking public funding.

Lawyers representing the school argued that receiving state funding does not make them a state actor, as they are operating like a private entity under a contract with the state. They asked the high court to overturn a previous decision by the Oklahoma Supreme Court that blocked the school from receiving public funds.

During the arguments, the justices pressed the school’s attorney, James Campbell, on how they would treat schools with different religious backgrounds. Justice Sonia Sotomayor raised concerns about schools that may exclude certain teachings or students of other faiths. Campbell emphasized that St. Isidore does not require students to affirm its religious beliefs and allows exceptions for those who do not wish to attend mass.

The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board initially approved St. Isidore’s contract request, making them eligible for state funds. However, the Oklahoma Supreme Court later ruled that public funding for the school violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond argued that the school would be considered a state actor if it received state funding.

The Supreme Court’s decision in this case could have far-reaching implications beyond Oklahoma, as more than 40 U.S. states authorize charter schools. The ruling could impact charter school funding across the country.

St. Isidore’s website explicitly states that it fully embraces the teachings of the Catholic Church and incorporates them into every aspect of the curriculum. The school also aims to participate in the evangelizing mission of the church.

This case is ongoing, and updates will be provided as they become available. Fox News’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report, and Breanne Deppisch is a national politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering the Trump administration, with a focus on the Justice Department, FBI, and other national news.