The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Phil Sechler regarding the Statewide Charter School Board’s decision to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Drummond v. Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board after the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s decision last month held that the board could not lawfully enter a charter contract with St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School because of the school’s religious beliefs:
“Oklahoma parents and children are better off with more choices, not fewer. There’s great irony in state officials who claim to be in favor of religious liberty discriminating against St. Isidore because of its Catholic beliefs. The U.S. Constitution protects St. Isidore’s freedom to operate according to its faith and supports the board’s decision to approve such learning options for Oklahoma families. Protecting the freedom of St. Isidore and other charter schools to operate according to their beliefs bolsters religious freedom across Oklahoma, which is why we will be appealing this case to the U.S. Supreme Court.”
ADF attorneys representing the Statewide Charter School Board filed a brief last year with the state’s high court opposing the petition filed by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond to cancel the contract the board entered with St. Isidore.
- Pronunciation guide: Sechler (SECK’-lur)
The ADF Center for Academic Freedom is dedicated to protecting First Amendment and related freedoms for students and faculty so that everyone can freely participate in the marketplace of ideas without fear of government censorship.
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