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The Oklahoma Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional a decision by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board to grant a charter school license to a sectarian Catholic school. St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School would have been the nation’s first sectarian charter school supported with taxpayer dollars. The action was advanced in June 2023 by a former far-right Republican official against the wishes of other Republican leadership in a state that is entirely run by Republicans. “The Act does not allow a charter school to be sectarian in its programs, admissions policies, employment practices, and operations.” “The question before this court is whether the St. Isidore contract violates state and federal law and is unconstitutional. We hold that the St. Isidore contract violates the Oklahoma Constitution, the Act, and the federal Establishment Clause,” the Supreme Court ruled June 25. Six of the nine justices concurred with the ruling, one concurred in part and dissented in part, one dissented entirely, and one recused. “St. Isidore is a public charter school. The Act does not allow a charter school to be sectarian in its programs, admissions policies, employment practices, and operations. The Act’s mandate is in line with the Oklahoma Constitution […]