"An #Oklahoma state board on Monday rejected a proposal to open a #Jewish #charterschool, likely restarting a legal fight over public funding of #religious #education.

Members of the Statewide Charter School Board, though complimentary of the school’s academic prowess, said they are obligated to obey an Oklahoma Supreme Court decision that rejected the concept of a state-funded #religiousschool. The same board had supported opening a #Catholic charter school in recent years, but a deadlocked #US #SupremeCourt allowed the state Court decision against it to stand.

The board and the Jewish charter school’s founders are now preparing for another protracted legal battle. After unanimously rejecting the school, the board voted to seek out private attorneys to handle expected litigation.

“I would be shocked if there’s not a lawsuit filed by Friday,” board Chairperson Brian Shellem said."

https://journalrecord.com/2026/02/11/oklahoma-board-denies-jewish-charter-school/

"#BethIsrael was where my parents were married. It was where my sister and I both became #BatMitzvahs, where we formed our #Jewish identity through #religiousschool and participation in our small but mighty youth group. It was where my husband and I married.

Last Saturday, Beth Israel Congregation was set on fire by someone who hates #Jews simply for being Jews. Seeing the charred images of the library is painful. I have vivid memories of being in that library playing hide-and-seek, participating in classes and youth group meetings, getting ready for my wedding and signing my #ketubah in that room.

If I close my eyes, I can see the ark where the #Torahs—now reduced to ash—once sat."

https://mississippitoday.org/2026/01/16/growing-up-jewish-in-mississippi/

These #regressive, misguided parents ARE free to opt their children out of the curriculum by enrolling them in a private #religiousSchool that better fits their worldview. They are NOT free to alter the #publicschool curriculum, or pick and choose which parts of the curriculum their children will learn, like an a la carte menu. This is another example of entitled, religious parents demanding that public schools accommodate their religious beliefs. No.

https://www.foxnews.com/media/parents-ask-supreme-court-take-up-case-restore-opt-outs-instruction-gender-sexuality

News in #SeparationofChurchandState :

#MikeJohnson's #ChristianNationalist Views Are Alarming

Lawsuit dropped in wake of #Biden rule restoring #religiousfreedom protections for people using federally funded #socialservices

Can a #CharterSchool Be a #ReligiousSchool?

#Religious #pluralism is an #American tradition

#NationalDayofPrayer continues to advance #Christian #Nationalism

An American requiem for the end of #whiteChristianNationalism

https://flipboard.com/@dustcircle/church-state-separation-g5hp0m0uy

Preserving #reproductivejustice: The imperative of separating #churchandstate
https://flip.it/A_k_jX

Former county clerk #KimDavis hit with $360K bill for denying #gaymarriage licenses
https://flip.it/JMxmLs

#LeonardLeo allies lead effort to establish #publiclyfunded #religiousschool
https://flip.it/-P65ld

Keep #Church and #State Separate to Preserve #Reproductive #Justice
https://flip.it/fQ9CDO