CV NEWS FEED// Oklahoma’s new board governing charter schools has kept America’s first Catholic charter school’s contract on hold, despite the state Supreme Court’s ruling that the school is unconstitutional.
Oklahoma’s Statewide Virtual Charter School Board had already approved the online Catholic school’s application, and after the Supreme Court’s decision, “failed to comply with the state Supreme Court’s order to rescind the founding contract for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School,” Oklahoma Voice reported in June.
However, the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board has been converted to the Statewide Charter School Board, governing all of the state’s charter schools, not just the virtual ones. The new board, which consists mostly of new members, maintained the former board’s decision by keeping the contract on hold, instead of nullifying it, KRMG reported.
Oklahoma’s superintendent of schools, Ryan Walters, believes the case should be reviewed by the United States Supreme Court, according to KRMG’s article.
“We’re going to keep fighting for their ability to work as a charter school,” Walters stated. “There’s no reason they should not be allowed the ability to open a charter school. They’ve passed every test put before them. So, they should have that opportunity, and parents should have the opportunity to send their kids to school there.”
Regardless, the school will not open in 2024, as its website stated. Over 200 students who applied will have to find another school for the fall.
“We will continue to fight this decision and the unconstitutional discrimination against educators and families of faith, and we are currently in discussions with the legal team as to our next steps for appealing the decision,” a note on the website said. “Unfortunately, as appeal in this case will take time and because of this ruling, we are unable to open St. Isidore for the 2024-2025 school year as planned.”
