Church and charter: Religious school runs up against unexpected opponent

The opening of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, the first religious charter school in Oklahoma and in the country, has garnered backlash from the existing charter school movement, prompting the state’s supreme court to hear arguments on the legality and legitimacy of the school’s existence.

Under Oklahoma law, charter schools are considered to be public institutions and they must be “nonsectarian.”

“This cannot be consistent with the separation of church and state,” Republican Attorney General Gentner Drummond told the state’s supreme court while arguing against the opening of St. Isidore earlier this month.

The move to create St. Isidore is also highly opposed by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and the National Association of Charter School Authorizers. James Merriman, chief executive officer

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