Religious Charter Schools Are OK in Oklahoma

Supporters of educational choice and religious liberty had cause for celebration on June 5, when the Oklahoma Virtual Charter School Board approved the initial application for the nation’s first religious charter school. St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, a joint venture of the Oklahoma City and Tulsa dioceses, will serve students statewide with the goal of bringing high-quality Catholic education to those who need it most. As the state’s bishops explained after the vote, the school will “be founded in the Catholic intellectual tradition of excellence” and “provide innovative educational options for underserved populations,” including students in rural areas, Hispanic and Native communities, and those with “special educational needs.”