2023-06-06 02:38:02
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (AP) — An Oklahoma state school board on Monday approved what would be the first publicly funded religious school in the United States, despite a warning from the state attorney general that the decision it was unconstitutional.
The State Board of Public Autonomous Schools for Distance Education voted 3-2 in favor of approving the request presented by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma for the creation of the San Isidoro de Sevilla Public Autonomous School for remote education. The online school would be open to students from all over the state in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond had warned the board that such a decision was a clear violation of the state Constitution.
“Approval of any publicly funded religious school is contrary to Oklahoma law and not in the best interest of taxpayers,” Drummond said in a statement released shortly following the board vote. “It is extremely disappointing that board members violated their oath in order to fund religious schools with our tax dollars. By doing so, these members have exposed themselves and the state to potential legal action that might be costly.”
The Archdiocese of Oklahoma noted the following in the “vision and purpose of the organization” section of its application: “The Catholic school participates in the mission of evangelization of the Church and is the privileged environment in which education takes place. Christian”.
Brett Farley, executive director of the Oklahoma Catholic Conference, said: “We are very pleased that the board agreed with our argument and request to (establish) the first public religious charter school in the country.”
The Americans United for Separation of Church and State group lashed out at the board’s decision.
“It is hard to think of a clearer violation of religious freedom for Oklahoma taxpayers and public school families than the state establishing the first public religious charter school in the nation,” said the president and principal. General of the group, Rachel Laser, in a statement: “This is a huge change for American democracy. Americans United will work with our allies in Oklahoma and across the country to pursue potential legal action to combat this decision and uphold the separation of Church and State promised in both the Oklahoma and United States Constitutions.”
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican who signed an initiative this year that would give parents a tax incentive to send their children to private schools, including religious schools, applauded the board’s decision.
“This is a win for freedom of belief and freedom of education in our great state, and I am excited regarding these initiatives to give parents more choices when it comes to their children’s education,” the governor said in a statement. release.
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