Supreme Court to Hear Arguments Over Religious Charter Schools: Live Updates
New York Times1 day
Supreme Court Hears Oklahoma Catholic Charter School Case
Above: Supporters of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School hold signs as they gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court on April 30, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Image copyright: Alex Wong/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
SCOTUS must uphold Oklahoma's ruling, as the state constitution forbids public funds for religious sects, and the First Amendment prohibits state-backed religious indoctrination. St. Isidore's, a church-run school mandating Catholic dogma, defies church-state separation. Affirming this protects religious liberty, secular education, and taxpayers from funding religious instruction, which is why even religious leaders support the state on this issue.
Right narrative
The First Amendment ensures religious groups aren't excluded from public programs, proving Oklahoma's charter system, which welcomes private entities but bars religious ones, breaches constitutional neutrality. Recent SCOTUS decisions also confirm that states can't deny funding to religious schools if secular ones qualify. As a private nonprofit, St. Isidore’s merits equal access to empower families, religious liberty, and school choice.
Cynical narrative
While St. Isidore's case is strong, Catholic schools should be wary of taking government money. Oklahoma's approval of St. Isidore as a publicly funded Catholic charter school aims to expand choice, but risks autonomy. Peltier v. Charter Day School shows charters are often deemed public, facing state oversight. Accepting funds could force Catholic schools to compromise on hiring or curriculum, threatening their religious freedom and independence.