SCOTUS news: Creation of nation's first religious charter school blocked
WASHINGTON − A divided Supreme Court on Thursday blocked the creation of the nation's first religious charter school, a major case about the separation of church and state.
The court split 4-4 over whether to allow the school, leaving in place the Oklahoma Supreme Court's decision that a religious charter school would violate the Constitution.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett did not participate in the decision.
A "religious charter school" refers to a concept where a publicly funded charter school would explicitly incorporate religious instruction, doctrine, or practices into its curriculum and operations.
While private religious schools exist and can receive some indirect public benefits through voucher programs (where parents choose a school), the direct public funding and operation of a school that teaches religion as truth, within the charter school framework, is largely prohibited and faces significant legal and constitutional hurdles.
Maureen Groppe, USA Today, contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: SCOTUS opinions: Religious charter schools blocked
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