School Board Approves Nation’s First Taxpayer-Funded Religious School, State’s Attorney General Issues Warning

A state school board in Oklahoma voted Monday to approve what would be the nation’s first taxpayer-funded religious school.

However, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond warned the school board that the decision was unconstitutional.

Oklahoma’s Statewide Virtual Charter School Board’s 3-2 vote of approval to allow the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma to establish the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School will likely set up a separation of church and state legal battle.

Oklahoma school board approves 1st taxpayer-funded religious school in U.S. | Just The News https://t.co/o2uftTpdr5

— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) June 6, 2023

“The approval of any publicly funded religious school is contrary to Oklahoma law and not in the best interest of taxpayers,” Drummond said in a statement.

“It’s extremely disappointing that board members violated their oath in order to fund religious schools with our tax dollars. In doing so, these members have exposed themselves and the state to potential legal action that could be costly.”

BREAKING: A state school board in Oklahoma voted to approve what would be the first publicly funded religious school in the nation, despite a warning from the state’s attorney general that the decision was unconstitutional. https://t.co/ZZoKiw7dir

— The Associated Press (@AP) June 5, 2023

AP reported:

Brett Farley, the executive director of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, said: “We are elated that the board agreed with our argument and application for the nation’s first religious charter school.”

Americans United for Separation of Church and State denounced the board’s approval.

“It’s hard to think of a clearer violation of the religious freedom of Oklahoma taxpayers and public-school families than the state establishing the nation’s first religious public charter school,” the group’s president and CEO Rachel Laser said in a statement.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed legislation last month that provided private and home school tax credits for households.

From The Oklahoman:

Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a private- and home-school tax credit bill Thursday, securing the first major legislative victory of his second term and delivering on his post-pandemic promise to significantly expand school choice options across Oklahoma.

The tax credit plan is part of a package that includes $125 million for school facilities and $500 million in new public school funding, half going to teacher pay raises. But it was the $150 million tax credit that was celebrated most by the governor and school choice advocates who gathered for the bill signing ceremony at the state Capitol.

Stitt praised the board’s vote.

“This is a win for religious liberty and education freedom in our great state, and I am encouraged by these efforts to give parents more options when it comes to their child’s education,” Stitt said in a statement.

I applaud the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board's courage to approve St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.

Today, with the nation watching, our state showed that we will not stand for religious discrimination.https://t.co/YrxwVYYdmK

— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) June 5, 2023

Just the News noted:

Some states have programs that give vouchers and tax credits to parents with children in private schools. Additionally, some public money goes to religious schools through various programs. However, the proposed school in Oklahoma is different because it would be fully government-funded.