Oklahoma must allow taxpayer-funded religious charter school, judge rules
The ruling bars Oklahoma from enforcing a nonsectarian mandate after the judge found it discriminates against otherwise eligible religious schools.
- On Thursday, U.S. District Judge David Russell issued a preliminary injunction blocking Oklahoma from enforcing its ban on religious charter schools, allowing the National Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School Foundation to move forward.
- Earlier this year, the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board rejected Ben Gamla's application, citing state law requiring charter schools to be nonsectarian, prompting the foundation to sue.
- Judge Russell wrote that the state's nonsectarian provision violates the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause by expressly discriminating against schools solely because of their religious character.
- Daniel Chen, senior counsel at Becket Law, stated the Constitution "doesn't permit the state to welcome every kind of charter school except a religious one," ensuring Ben Gamla a fair shot to serve Oklahoma families.
- Lawyers for interveners, including Americans United and the American Civil Liberties Union, called the ruling "a dangerous sea change for our democracy," vowing to continue fighting for secular public schools open to all students.
30 Articles
30 Articles
National Catholic Register
Catholic World ReportFederal Court Rules in Favor of Oklahoma Jewish Charter School Amid Public Funding Lawsuit
A Catholic charter school had previously brought a similar lawsuit against the state but had failed to secure a ruling from the Supreme Court.
Federal Judge Allows Bid for First Religious Charter School in U.S. to Proceed in Oklahoma
National Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School may continue pursuing plans to become the nation’s first religious charter school while its legal challenge to an Oklahoma law moves forward, a federal judge ruled. According to Baptist Press, the National Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School Foundation is challenging provisions of the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act that bar religious organizations from operating publicly funded charter schools because of their …
kiowacountypress.net
Oklahoma can’t deny Jewish charter school from opening, federal judge decides
Oklahoma can’t deny Jewish charter school from opening, federal judge decides mps-post Mon, 09/28/2026 - 05:00 Image (Oklahoma Voice) In a decision that could enable the nation’s first religious charter school to open, an Oklahoma City federal judge has ruled in favor of a Jewish school seeking to operate with taxpayer funds.Oklahoma Western District Judge David L. Russell decided Thursday that the Statewide Charter School Board violated the F…
Federal court allows Jewish charter school to move forward in Oklahoma
A federal judge ruled that Oklahoma officials cannot exclude a Jewish school from the state’s charter school program, more than a year after the Supreme Court punted on the constitutionality of taxpayer-funded religious charter schools. U.S. District Judge David Russell, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan, found that Oklahoma officials’ denial of the National […]
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 48% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
