Federal judge blocks Oklahoma religion bar to charter application

Education

Zero Hedge

On Sept. 24 U.S. District Judge David Russell issued a preliminary injunction in favor of the National Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School Foundation, preventing the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board from treating religious character as an automatic disqualifier for charter applications. The board had denied Ben Gamla citing state law and the Oklahoma Supreme Court's 2024 Drummond decision, which had required cancellation of a Catholic virtual school's contract. The injunction does not approve the school or let it open; it only bars the board from excluding applicants solely for being religious while the federal case continues, and intervenors say they will keep fighting.

Judge barred automatic exclusion of religious charter applicants.