May 22, 2025
OEA Statement on Supreme Court Ruling Blocking Nation’s First Religious Charter School
Today’s US Supreme Court decision on the establishment of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School marked a major win for public schools. Due to a split 4:4 ruling, the original decision made by the Oklahoma Supreme Court will be upheld.
The state’s top court decided last year that the proposal to use public funds for a religious charter school went against Oklahoma law and the Establishment Clause.
In response, OEA released the following statement:
Today’s ruling by the United States Supreme Court to block the establishment of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School reaffirms a critical principle: public education must serve all students, not just a select few. At a time when Oklahoma public school budgets are already stretched thin, directing public funds to a religious charter school would divert essential resources away from classrooms that desperately need them. Our state’s commitment must remain focused on strengthening public schools, which welcome and support every child — regardless of their background, beliefs, or ZIP code.
“Our public schools and educators work tirelessly to meet the needs of each student despite the challenges placed on them by elected officials,” said Cari Elledge, a fifth-grade teacher who serves as the president of the Oklahoma Education Association. “Requiring Oklahoma to fund religious doctrine in charter school programs diminishes funding for classroom resources, educator salaries, and other supports our students need. Ultimately, it can harm our students and our public schools by funneling funding meant for all to only a select few.”
Public schools are the heart of our communities and the foundation of our democracy. Today’s SCOTUS decision is a win for Oklahoma’s students, families and educators who believe that public dollars should be used to invest in inclusive, diverse, and high-quality public education. OEA remains committed to advocating for equitable and well-funded public schools that serve every student, in every corner of the state.
