OKLAHOMA HAS ALWAYS BEEN TAUGHT IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS, BUT OC’S CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE IS ASKING TO CREATE A VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL AND IF APPROVED, IT WOULD BE PAID FOR WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS. KOCO.COM. EVAN ONSTOT IS JOINING US IN STUDIO TONIGHT. EVAN, YOU WERE WATCHING TODAY AS THEY MADE THEIR PITCH, RIGHT? AND THEY MADE IT THE ARCHDIOCESE TO THE STATEWIDE VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD. THEY STREAMED THEIR MEETINGS ONLINE. AND WE ALSO HEARD FROM SOME WHO OPPOSE THE PLAN AT THIS MEETING, THE VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL IN QUESTION WOULD BE NAMED AFTER SAINT ISIDORE OF SEVILLE, WHO IS ACTUALLY THE PATRON SAINT OF THE INTERNET AND ELECTRONICS. THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE, WHO SAYS THAT IT WANTS TO MODEL THIS SCHOOL OFF THE EDUCATION THAT STUDENTS GET IN THEIR BRICK AND MORTAR SCHOOLS, WHICH MEANS THE CATHOLIC FAITH IS PART OF THE REQUIRED CURRICULUM. THEY SAY THAT THEY WANT TO ADD THIS VIRTUAL OPTION AS A WAY TO REACH MORE OKLAHOMANS. BUT ONE BIG QUESTION THE ARCHDIOCESE WAS ASKED TODAY WAS WHY MAKE IT A PUBLIC CHARTER USING TAX DOLLARS WHEN THEY CAN JUST CREATE A PRIVATE VIRTUAL OPTION RIGHT NOW? AND THE ANSWER THEY GAVE THAT PARENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO ENROLL IF THEY DON’T HAVE TO PAY TUITION, IF THEY’RE COMPETING AGAINST ALL OTHER VIRTUAL SCHOOLS. BUT ALL OF THE OTHER ONES ARE FREE. THAT’S THAT’S A PROBLEM. SO AND THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE PAYING FOR ALL OF THOSE OTHER THINGS. BUT OUR OUR PARENTS ARE PAYING TAXES, TOO. ONE OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NEVER TAX ANY OF ITS CITIZENS TO PAY FOR SOMEONE ELSE’S RELIGION. AND THAT THERE THAT WAS THE BASIC ARGUMENT WE HEARD FROM OPPONENTS THAT GRANTING THIS APPLICATION WOULD BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL, THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS, BY DEFINITION, ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS CANNOT PROMOTE OR REQUIRE SPECIFIC RELIGION. THERE WAS NO VOTE TODAY THAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE BOARD’S NEXT MEETING THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 14TH. IF APPROVED, GUYS, OKLAHOMA WOULD BE THE FIRST TO DO THIS. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOP
OKC’s Catholic archdiocese asks to create virtual charter school
Oklahoma City’s Catholic archdiocese is asking to create a virtual charter school.
![KOCO logo]()
Updated: 8:55 AM CST Feb 15, 2023
Religious education in Oklahoma has always been taught in private schools.Oklahoma City’s Catholic archdiocese is asking to create a virtual charter school. If approved, it would be paid for with Oklahomans’ tax dollars.The archdiocese made it to the statewide virtual charter school board. They stream the meetings online and KOCO 5 also heard from some who oppose the plan.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.The virtual charter school in question would be named after St. Isidore of Seville, who is the patron saint of the internet and electronics. The Catholic archdiocese said it wants to model it off the education students get in its brick-and-mortar schools, which means the Catholic faith is part of the required curriculum.They said they want to add this virtual option as a way to reach more Oklahomans, but one big question was why make it a public charter, using tax dollars when they can just create a private, virtual option?They said parents are more likely to enroll if they don’t have to pay tuition.>> Get the KOCO 5 App"If we're competing against all the other virtual schools, but all the others are free, that's a problem. And the taxpayer dollars are paying for all those other ones but our parents are paying taxes too," said Lara Schuler, Archdiocese of OKC.There was an argument heard from opponents that granting the application would be unconstitutional because charter schools by definition are public schools and public schools cannot promote or require specific religion."One of the most fundamental principles of religious freedom is that the government shall never tax any of its citizens to pay for someone else's religion," said Sherri Brown, OK Parents Legislative Action Committee.There was no vote on Tuesday but it should happen at the board’s next meeting scheduled for March 14. If approved, Oklahoma would be the first to do this so there are a lot of people outside our state watching closely.Top HeadlinesOSBI investigating suspicious death after woman's remains found at Lake ThunderbirdOklahoma residents to vote on various impactful local elections TuesdayThe Chicks coming to Tulsa as part of 2023 world tourMoore officer, suspect taken to hospital after overnight pursuits and crashesChurches in Oklahoma to decide whether to leave denomination over including LGBTQ+ membersMan arrested on arson complaint after allegedly setting fire to Del City police car in 2021
OKLAHOMA CITY — Religious education in Oklahoma has always been taught in private schools.
Oklahoma City’s Catholic archdiocese is asking to create a virtual charter school. If approved, it would be paid for with Oklahomans’ tax dollars.
The archdiocese made it to the statewide virtual charter school board. They stream the meetings online and KOCO 5 also heard from some who oppose the plan.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
The virtual charter school in question would be named after St. Isidore of Seville, who is the patron saint of the internet and electronics. The Catholic archdiocese said it wants to model it off the education students get in its brick-and-mortar schools, which means the Catholic faith is part of the required curriculum.
They said they want to add this virtual option as a way to reach more Oklahomans, but one big question was why make it a public charter, using tax dollars when they can just create a private, virtual option?
They said parents are more likely to enroll if they don’t have to pay tuition.
>> Get the KOCO 5 App
"If we're competing against all the other virtual schools, but all the others are free, that's a problem. And the taxpayer dollars are paying for all those other ones but our parents are paying taxes too," said Lara Schuler, Archdiocese of OKC.
There was an argument heard from opponents that granting the application would be unconstitutional because charter schools by definition are public schools and public schools cannot promote or require specific religion.
"One of the most fundamental principles of religious freedom is that the government shall never tax any of its citizens to pay for someone else's religion," said Sherri Brown, OK Parents Legislative Action Committee.
There was no vote on Tuesday but it should happen at the board’s next meeting scheduled for March 14. If approved, Oklahoma would be the first to do this so there are a lot of people outside our state watching closely.
Top Headlines
