Key Takeaways:
– The US Supreme Court is about to review whether public money can support an explicitly religious charter school; an unprecedented situation.
– This action could have major impacts on the balance between church and state in the US.
– President Trump’s conservative-majority Supreme Court will decide upon on an Oklahoma case, potentially changing public education permanently.
– A decision for the Catholic school could encourage other religious entities to operate state-funded charter schools.
The Week’s Big Education News
In a whirlwind week, President Donald Trump approved immigration raids at schools and halted federal employees working on diversity issues, but the major news in the education sector emerged late Friday afternoon. Notably, it has the potential to change the landscape of public schools indefinitely.
US Supreme Court to Weigh in on Religious Charter School Funding Debate
The US Supreme Court, majorly consisting of conservatives appointed by Trump, has accepted an Oklahoma case that questions if the law allows public funds to be directed towards a religious charter school. The case revolves around St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School whose stated mission is to provide ‘eternal salvation.’ As per Derek Black, a law professor at the University of South Carolina, the case revolves around the question of whether a religious entity can run a charter school that teaches its doctrines as ultimate truth.
While there are several Catholic schools that have turned into secular charter schools, the Oklahoma case differs as the school overtly wishes to use government funds to promote its own religious beliefs.
What’s At Stake?
This decision is a crucial one, potentially disrupting the delicate equilibrium between church and state. Trump has been an open advocate for allowing Christian teachings in the classroom, even pledging to bring prayer back into public schools. It is not just his endeavor, though, it’s a larger movement backed by governors, state lawmakers and numerous wealthy investors.
States and Christianity in Classrooms
Governors from Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana -states that advocate for integration of the Bible in classroom instruction- have long been waiting for such a case. Oklahoma Governor, Kevin Stitt, feels that denying a charter to St. Isidore merely because of their religious foundation is unconstitutional. On the contrary, Gentner Drummond, Oklahoma’s GOP attorney general, maintains that charter schools obligation to remain non-religious is clear at both state and federal levels.
State-Funded Religious Charter Schools: A Possible Future?
If the court sides with the school, it predicts that there would be an influx of religious organizations opening their faith-based charter schools. This could significantly affect the traditional districts battling to prevent drops in enrollment. Especially in states like Oklahoma where the funding for education is already tight, any shift of funding from public to charter schools might create a devastating financial impact on the traditional school system.
Looking Ahead
The forthcoming Supreme Court ruling expected to be in late April could have long-lasting repercussions on the country’s public school system. It’s a critical junction that mirrors the long-standing debates over religious freedom and church-state separation. With the ongoing debates and influential stakeholders involved, this case seems set to leave a lasting mark on the American education public policy. A new education system where religious organizations run schools might be on the horizon, spiralling into a whole new set of issues that states need to face. Therefore, it is safe to say that the stakes couldn’t be higher, making this an education story to watch.