A group of public school parents, taxpayers and faith leaders last week filed the first legal challenge to a state-sanctioned religious charter school. They’ve asked an Oklahoma County judge for an injunction to stop the process of opening the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. The group argues in its filing that the school is unlawful because it would discriminate against students by excluding, disciplining or expelling students based on their religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and other characteristics. They also claim the school would not adequately serve students with disabilities; its plan to teach a religious curriculum violates state law and the state constitution; and its management arrangement with the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City violates board policy. The claims are based on the state constitution, the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act and the board’s own regulations, which is why the lawsuit was filed in state court. They don’t raise claims against the First Amendment’s establishment clause, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. National legal advocacy groups Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union, Education Law Center and Freedom From Religion Foundation are representing the Oklahoma parents and taxpayers, led by […]
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