Supreme Court rules on Oklahoma's religious charter school request

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - The Supreme Court affirms the Oklahoma Supreme Court's decision to block a religious public charter school.

The vote was a four-to-four tie with one justice recusing themself. Only eight of the nine justices took part in the case.

According to the Associated Press, the outcome keeps in place an Oklahoma court decision that invalidated a vote by a state charter school board to approve the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, which would have been the nation’s first religious charter school. But it leaves the issue unresolved nationally.

Officials say the issue could return to the high court in the future, with the prospect that all nine justices could participate.

"This 4-4 tie is a non-decision. Now we’re in overtime. There will be another case just like this one and Justice Barrett will break the tie. This is far from a settled issue. We are going to keep fighting for parents’ rights to instill their values in their children and against religious discrimination." said Governor Kevin Stitt regarding the decision.