Sometime next month, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide whether the Catholic church should be allowed to open its own public charter school in Oklahoma and receive state tax dollars to do so. For many, the idea of a religious public school seems to be a clear violation of the separation of church and state. But many Republicans, including Gov. Kevin Stitt, have a different take.
Some observers of the court believe it will rule in favor of the Catholic school. Justice Brett Kavanaugh seemed to argue that approving the new school would “be expanding the options, not contracting the options.” That’s true, unless you’re, you know, not Catholic.
Given Oklahoma’s history of handing out public dollars to private entities and schools, it’s a safe bet that allowing religious organizations to start their own public schools will end in financial mismanagement. At the very least, Oklahoma’s Republican-majority Legislature will surely change its tune when other faiths begin opening their own schools.
This article appears in Summer Guide 2025.