The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court have agreed to hear a case having to do with the attempt to create America's first publicly funded religious charter school. 

The case, according to The Hill, comes from Oklahoma. This is where this effort is taking place.

It was just on Friday that the justices indicated that they would indeed hear the case.

This could turn out to be an important decision, one that could have an impact on the future direction of our country. Accordingly, it is one to keep an eye on.

Background

The relevant background of the case has been reported by Fox59.

It all has to do with the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School, the first publicly funded religious charter school.

The outlet reports:

Last June, Oklahoma’s top court held by a 7-1 vote that a taxpayer-funded religious charter school would violate the part of the First Amendment that prohibits government from making any law “respecting an establishment of religion.”

Fox59 continues by explaining, "The decision followed a 3-2 vote in 2023 by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board to approve an application by the archdiocese for the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School."

The school was all ready to get going. It has planned to start classes in the Fall of 2024, but it was prevented from doing so by a lawsuit.

Since then, the lawsuit has made it through the legal system, and now it has made its way up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Looking forward

One, of course, can never predict exactly how the justices will handle this case.

Fox59 notes:

The conservative-dominated high court has issued several decisions in recent years signaling a willingness to allow public funds to flow to religious entities. At the same time, conservative-led states have sought to insert religion into public schools, including Louisiana’s requirement that the Ten Commandments be posted in classrooms.

This does not necessarily mean, however, that the justices will rule in favor of the school.

Something worth noting that is only eight of the nine Supreme Court justices will actually participate in this case. Justice Amy Coney Barrett has decided to recuse herself from it for unknown reasons. This means that there is a possibility of a 4 to 4 split.

It is expected that the Supreme Court will probably hear the last by April, and it is expected that the court will probably release its decision by early summer.