Supreme Court weighs whether Oklahoma can open nation's first religious charter school

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

61% : "This case is ultimately about safeguarding religious liberty," Mr. Drummond said after Wednesday's arguments.
59% : "Religious liberty means every citizen is free to worship as he or she sees fit.
57% : "Charter schools are public schools," Mr. Garre said.
57% : Parents consider charter schools as alternatives to their underperforming local options or a chance to give their children an education with a particular focus.
54% : "Participation in charter schools is mediated by two layers of private choice," said Mr. Sauer, adding that the school is created by private actors and parents who have the choice of where to enroll their children.
51% : In a 2022 case, the high court said Maine couldn't prevent state-funded tuition from going toward religious private schools.
51% : Mr. Garre said a ruling in favor of St. Isadore could upend charter schools in dozens of other states.
50% : That argument resonated with the Supreme Court's Democratic appointees, who said charter schools operate primarily as arms of the state, so having one of them teach a devoutly religious curriculum would cross constitutional lines.
49% : " Oklahoma's two Catholic bishops said they "pray and hope for a decision that stands with religious liberty.
48% : "They are not engaged in state action," D. John Sauer, the U.S. solicitor general, told the court.
44% : Some of the court's Republican appointees said that in a world where charter schools can be formed to focus on the environment, science, athletics or immersion in languages, it smacks of discrimination to say schools cannot adopt a religious curriculum.
43% : We have an education program, and you want to not allow them to participate with a religious entity?" Gregory G. Garre, representing the Oklahoma attorney general, said schooling is a core government obligation, which makes public schools different from adoption agencies.
36% : "Teaching religion in public schools is not allowed.

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