Supreme Court case involving Catholic charter school in Oklahoma is about ensuring that families have the best educational options for their children.
SCOTUS takes up case on LGBTQ+, inclusive books in schools
Demonstrators on both sides protested as the Supreme Court heard a school district’s case on parents’ rights and LGBTQ+ books.
Parental rights have been a hot-button topic at least since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Lockdowns and school closures meant students learned at home, giving parents a bird’s-eye view into what their children were − and weren’t − learning at school.
It’s the important background for a pivotal school-choice case that was argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on April 30.
Parents realized their children weren’t just being taught math, reading and science. They were being exposed to ideology-driven instruction promoting division and the notion that a child can be born in the wrong body.
Every parent wants their child to get a high-quality education that prepares them for adulthood, gainful employment and civic engagement. But what equals a high-quality education can vary by family and by child. Families have different needs, and children are unique − what works for one may not work for another.
Is public K-12 education going in the right direction?
Approximately 48.7 million students are enrolled in public schools. But only 16% of Americans believe public K-12 education is going in the right direction.
We have an educational crisis in America when 33% of eighth graders cannot read at a basic level.
That’s why many parents are looking for alternatives. Homeschooling increased significantly in the 2020-21 school year, doubling the number of families compared with the previous year. The percentage of K-12 students enrolled in private schools also rose.
While home or private schooling may be doable and affordable for some parents, they may not be viable options for others. Location and limits on time or financial resources mean some families have no choice other than the local public school, and that school may not be the best fit for their child.
We should all agree that the answer is more high-quality, no-cost educational options for families. It’s time for educational innovation and freedom. Parents deserve more choices for their children’s education. And kids deserve more freedom to learn.
Public charter schools provide one great option. These schools are publicly funded and available to families from across the economic spectrum. They can provide communities with options better suited to a child’s unique academic needs, learning style or physical limitations.
They also give parents more choices since public charter schools can offer an excellent education through various curriculums, teaching methods and even faith-based worldviews for parents who choose such an option.
Opinion: Don’t wait for Trump, Education Department to fix our schools. Start locally.
Oklahoma approved public charter for Catholic school
This is one reason the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board approved St. Isidore of Seville’s participation as a qualified virtual public charter school, regardless of its religious affiliation. The school met all legal requirements for becoming an online virtual charter school and has a history of providing high-quality education.
But the Oklahoma attorney general challenged that approval at the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond on the sole basis that the charter school is religiously affiliated.
That’s discrimination, as the charter school board’s attorneys with Alliance Defending Freedom explained. The First Amendment and at least three recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions say the government can’t single out religion in this way in generally available government programs. And it’s unfair to Oklahoma parents and kids who need and deserve more education opportunities.
Oklahoma’s poverty rate is the sixth highest in the nation. Low-income families who can’t afford a private school deserve access to more high-quality, no-cost education options. A rural, low-performing public school shouldn’t be the only choice these families have for educating their kids.
Education alternatives are also warranted for working parents who cannot homeschool their children due to time constraints.
The goal is to provide more options for parents, no matter their finances or circumstances, so families can find the right fit for their children’s educational needs. Those families deserve more high-caliber educational options, like St. Isidore, that are both affordable and accessible.
As a mother, I understand the importance of having choices and options when educating my children. My family had the opportunity to participate in a public charter school when we lived in Arizona, and now my two oldest are in a private school in our new home state. Each has benefited my family in different ways.
Educational choice has empowered me as a parent to ensure my kids get a solid education as our family grows, experiences different seasons and resides in different locations. More options are better − both for parents and kids.
Parents have a duty and right to raise and educate their children. With a public education system failing families, parents need a variety of alternatives to choose the best education for their children.
Families need options and opportunities when it comes to education. Parents and kids in Oklahoma − and throughout the United States − deserve both.
Kate Anderson is senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom (@ADFLegal) and leads its Center for Parental Rights.
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