{"id":12028,"date":"2023-07-31T12:16:26","date_gmt":"2023-07-31T16:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/au.org\/?page_id=12028"},"modified":"2025-07-06T05:04:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T09:04:15","slug":"oklahoma-charter-school-lawsuit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/oklahoma-charter-school-lawsuit\/","title":{"rendered":"Oklahoma Charter School Lawsuit"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"12028\" class=\"elementor elementor-12028\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-c4b1874 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c4b1874\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;video&quot;,&quot;background_privacy_mode&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;background_play_once&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;background_video_start&quot;:103,&quot;background_video_end&quot;:228}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-2e8be38 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2e8be38\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a28a729 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a28a729\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Religious Public Charter Schools violate church-state separation<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-3478ef3 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3478ef3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-960d875 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"960d875\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-48c84dd e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"48c84dd\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f73efe5 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f73efe5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Summary<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe3f4c8 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fe3f4c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Charter schools are <strong>public schools<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>And public schools must be secular and open to all students. They are not allowed to&nbsp;discriminate against students or indoctrinate children into one religion.<\/p>\n<p>But that is exactly what Oklahoma\u2019s newly approved religious public charter school, St. Isidore of Seville, intends to do.<\/p>\n<p>Approved by the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board in June 2023, St. Isidore would be a public school\u2014entirely funded by the taxpayers of Oklahoma\u2014even though St. Isidore makes clear in its charter school application that it intends to run the school \u201cas a Catholic school\u201d and a \u201cplace of evangelization.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why Americans United along with the ACLU, Freedom from Religion Foundation and Education Law Center is suing.&nbsp;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-a4767f5 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a4767f5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3680df black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a3680df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Resources<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-766603e e-grid e-con-full ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"766603e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08c50a7 elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"08c50a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_details\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Details\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-list-alt\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_details\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDetails\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-icon-box-description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSee more details about the case\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-941fae5 elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"941fae5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_casematerials\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Case Materials\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-folder-open\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_casematerials\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCase Materials\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-icon-box-description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tReview the AU Legal Library case materials\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f1e171 elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"0f1e171\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_videos\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Videos\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-video\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_videos\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVideos\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-icon-box-description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWatch related videos on the case\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b5b76c5 elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"b5b76c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_plaintiffs\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Plaintiffs\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-users\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_plaintiffs\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPlaintiffs\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-icon-box-description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn more about our Plantiffs\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6810f89 elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"6810f89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_press\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Press\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-newspaper\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_press\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPress\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-icon-box-description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRead our latest Press statement about the case\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-4f1f81f sidebar-right e-con-full animated-slow e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default elementor-invisible e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4f1f81f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;sticky&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;sticky_on&quot;:[&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;mobile&quot;],&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInRight&quot;,&quot;animation_mobile&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;sticky_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_effects_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_anchor_link_offset&quot;:0}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-9515430 e-con-full elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-hidden-tablet e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9515430\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de82fa0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"de82fa0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<script>\r\n  document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {\r\n    const sidebar = document.querySelector('.sidebar-right'); \/\/ Sidebar container\r\n    const sidebarGrid = document.querySelector('.sidebar-grid'); \/\/ Sidebar child content\r\n    const toggleButton = document.querySelector('.sidebar-toggle'); \/\/ Elementor button widget\r\n\r\n    toggleButton.addEventListener('click', function (event) {\r\n      event.preventDefault(); \/\/ Prevent default link behavior\r\n\r\n      \/\/ Toggle 'collapsed' class on the sidebar\r\n      const isCollapsed = sidebar.classList.toggle('collapsed');\r\n\r\n      \/\/ Show or hide the sidebar grid based on state\r\n      sidebarGrid.style.display = isCollapsed ? 'none' : 'block';\r\n\r\n      \/\/ Toggle the button's collapsed state\r\n      toggleButton.classList.toggle('collapsed', isCollapsed);\r\n    });\r\n  });\r\n<\/script>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eff6a21 elementor-align-justify sidebar-toggle elementor-laptop-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"eff6a21\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm elementor-animation-shrink\" href=\"#\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-9f83158 e-grid e-con-full sidebar-grid ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9f83158\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a37267a elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"a37267a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_details\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Details\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-list-alt\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_details\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDetails\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-178bb89 elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"178bb89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_casematerials\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Case Materials\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-folder-open\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_casematerials\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCase Materials\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a97345e elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"a97345e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_videos\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Videos\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-video\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_videos\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVideos\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-150af3d elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"150af3d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_plaintiffs\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Plaintiffs\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-users\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_plaintiffs\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPlaintiffs\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3922fcf elementor-view-default elementor-position-top elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"3922fcf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_press\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Press\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-newspaper\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#_press\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPress\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-89f592f e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"89f592f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b04e26a elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"b04e26a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"_details\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5daabac elementor-position-left elementor-view-default elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"5daabac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<span  class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-list-alt\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDetails\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-491cbd2 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"491cbd2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-7ebae56 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7ebae56\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80b7316 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"80b7316\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">We must stop Oklahoma from creating the nation\u2019s first religious public charter school<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bdc69c8 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bdc69c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Public education is a cornerstone of American life; it is essential to our democracy and our success as a nation. Ninety percent of America\u2019s children attend public schools. AU works to protect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/how-we-protect-religious-freedom\/issues\/schools-and-learning\/\">public education<\/a> by ensuring (1) that public funds go to public schools, and (2) that those public schools remain inclusive and do not promote religion or force anyone to take part in religious activities.<\/p><p>On June 5, 2023, Oklahoma\u2019s Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted to approve the nation\u2019s first religious public charter school, despite clear evidence that the school plans to teach a religious curriculum and discriminate against students, families, and employees who do not follow the school\u2019s religious doctrines. Oklahoma parents, faith leaders and public school advocates are challenging the school\u2019s approval as a blatant violation of the separation of church and state guaranteed by Oklahoma\u2019s constitution, laws, and regulations.<\/p><h3>St. Isidore plans to use taxpayer dollars to discriminate and indoctrinate students.<\/h3><p>St. Isidore <strong>will discriminate<\/strong> against students, families and employees based on religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and other protected characteristics. We know this because St. Isidore stated in its charter application that <strong>it asserts a right to discriminate<\/strong> against students on the basis of disability and has self-proclaimed itself as a \u201cplace of evangelization.\u201d St. Isidore openly plans to indoctrinate students in religious beliefs and divert millions of dollars of taxpayer money away from secular public schools.<\/p><p>This nation was built on the promise of religious freedom, which has always ensured the state cannot use its taxing power to force citizens to fund religious worship or education. The government should never force anyone to fund religious education. Doing so violates the religious freedom of us all.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-5ebdd49 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5ebdd49\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-937f04a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"937f04a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">On April 30, 2025 the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Drummond v. Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter, a separate yet similar lawsuit brought by the Oklahoma Attorney General. \u00a0<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dbdd262 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dbdd262\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Americans United and our partners filed an amicus brief in this case on behalf of the OKPLAC plaintiffs. Oklahoma virtual charter schools are governmental entities and must comply with the Constitution.<\/p><p><strong>A religious public school would be an oxymoron and a blatant violation of the Establishment Clause.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-7173652 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7173652\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9952c97 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"9952c97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"_casematerials\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b476b4b elementor-position-left elementor-view-default elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"b476b4b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<span  class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-folder-open\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCase Materials\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-d2db9a2 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d2db9a2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-8943002 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8943002\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9270059 e-n-tabs-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-n-tabs\" data-id=\"9270059\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;tabs_justify_horizontal&quot;:&quot;start&quot;,&quot;horizontal_scroll&quot;:&quot;disable&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"nested-tabs.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-tabs\" data-widget-number=\"153550937\" aria-label=\"Tabs. Open items with Enter or Space, close with Escape and navigate using the Arrow keys.\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-tabs-heading\" role=\"tablist\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-1535509371\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"true\" data-tab-index=\"1\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-1535509371\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 1;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-folder-open\"><\/i>\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-folder-open\"><\/i>\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tLegal Case \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-tab-title-1535509372\" class=\"e-n-tab-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab-index=\"2\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"e-n-tab-content-1535509372\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 2;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-file-pdf\"><\/i>\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-file-pdf\"><\/i>\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-tab-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\tCase Documents\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-tabs-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider e-active elementor-element elementor-element-5234609 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" id=\"e-n-tab-content-1535509371\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-1535509371\" data-tab-index=\"1\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 1;\" data-id=\"5234609\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f19cbed elementor-widget elementor-widget-jet-listing-grid\" data-id=\"f19cbed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;columns&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"jet-listing-grid.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"jet-listing-grid jet-listing\"><div class=\"jet-listing-grid__items grid-col-desk-1 grid-col-tablet-1 grid-col-mobile-1 jet-listing-grid--39693\" data-queried-id=\"12028|WP_Post\" data-nav=\"{&quot;enabled&quot;:false,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;more_el&quot;:null,&quot;query&quot;:[],&quot;widget_settings&quot;:{&quot;lisitng_id&quot;:39693,&quot;posts_num&quot;:1,&quot;columns&quot;:1,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:1,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;column_min_width&quot;:240,&quot;column_min_width_tablet&quot;:240,&quot;column_min_width_mobile&quot;:240,&quot;inline_columns_css&quot;:false,&quot;is_archive_template&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_status&quot;:[&quot;publish&quot;],&quot;use_random_posts_num&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;max_posts_num&quot;:9,&quot;not_found_message&quot;:&quot;No data was found&quot;,&quot;is_masonry&quot;:false,&quot;equal_columns_height&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;use_load_more&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;load_more_id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;load_more_type&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;load_more_offset&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:0,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;use_custom_post_types&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;custom_post_types&quot;:[&quot;case&quot;],&quot;hide_widget_if&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;carousel_enabled&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;slides_to_scroll&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;arrows&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;arrow_icon&quot;:&quot;fa fa-angle-left&quot;,&quot;dots&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;infinite&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;center_mode&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;effect&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500,&quot;inject_alternative_items&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;injection_items&quot;:[],&quot;scroll_slider_enabled&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;scroll_slider_on&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;mobile&quot;],&quot;custom_query&quot;:false,&quot;custom_query_id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;_element_id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;collapse_first_last_gap&quot;:false,&quot;list_tag_selection&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;list_items_wrapper_tag&quot;:&quot;div&quot;,&quot;list_item_tag&quot;:&quot;div&quot;,&quot;empty_items_wrapper_tag&quot;:&quot;div&quot;}}\" data-page=\"1\" data-pages=\"1\" data-listing-source=\"posts\" data-listing-id=\"39693\" data-query-id=\"33\"><div class=\"jet-listing-grid__item jet-listing-dynamic-post-12137\" data-post-id=\"12137\"  >\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"jet-listing-items\" data-elementor-id=\"39693\" class=\"elementor elementor-39693\" data-elementor-post-type=\"jet-engine\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-8aa027f e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8aa027f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-71dae28 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"71dae28\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-c080507 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c080507\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ba21e7 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-ae-post-title\" data-id=\"8ba21e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"ae-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 itemprop=\"name\" class=\"ae-element-post-title\">Oklahoma Religious Public School Lawsuit<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-173818b e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"173818b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e3a2dc elementor-widget elementor-widget-ae-post-meta\" data-id=\"7e3a2dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout_mode&quot;:&quot;horizontal&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"ae-post-meta.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ae-post-meta-list-wrapper ae-pm-layout-horizontal ae-pm-layout-tablet- ae-pm-layout-mobile-\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ae-post-meta-item-wrapper ae-post-date-06-05-2024\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ae-element-post-date-label\">\n\t\t\t\tLast modified\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"ae-element-post-date\" title=\"9:00 AM\" rel=\"date\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"ae-post-date-06-05-2024\">2024.06.05<\/span>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-1f20eae e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1f20eae\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-4f330c5 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4f330c5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff53955 black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ff53955\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">STATUS<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-ca7310f e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ca7310f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b62cb50 black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b62cb50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Closed<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-20b08ab e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"20b08ab\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d809209 black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d809209\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">TYPE<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-8377e4f e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8377e4f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23cc8ef black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"23cc8ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Counsel<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-ca4f6ad e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ca4f6ad\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14cfbff black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"14cfbff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">COURT<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-827a68b e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"827a68b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d949e29 black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d949e29\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>State Court<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-bd01d5c e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"bd01d5c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-feafe53 black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"feafe53\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">ISSUES<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-ad00fbd e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ad00fbd\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bdc867d black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bdc867d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Fighting Discrimination<\/span>, <span>LGBTQ Equality<\/span>, <span>Public Schools<\/span>, <span>Religious Discrimination in Schools<\/span>, <span>Religious Minorities<\/span>, <span>Taxpayer Funding of Religion<\/span>, <span>Teaching Religion in Public Schools<\/span>, <span>Trans Rights<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96f2666 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"96f2666\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><p>America\u2019s public schools are required to welcome and serve all students, regardless of a student\u2019s background, beliefs, or abilities. Yet, on June 5, 2023, Oklahoma\u2019s Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted to approve the nation\u2019s first religious public charter school, despite clear evidence that the school plans to teach a religious curriculum and discriminate against students, families, and employees who do not follow the school\u2019s religious doctrines. Americans United, along with the American Civil Liberties Union, Education Law Center, and Freedom from Religion Foundation, represents Oklahoma parents, faith leaders, and public-school advocates challenging the school\u2019s approval as a blatant violation of the separation of church and state guaranteed by Oklahoma\u2019s constitution, laws, and regulations.<\/p>\n<p>St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School stated in its application to the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board that it plans to operate \u201cas a Catholic School\u201d that \u201cparticipates in the evangelizing mission of the Church.\u201d This \u201cCatholic perspective permeates all subjects\u201d St. Isidore plans to teach, including required theology classes. St. Isidore also plans to discriminate in student admissions, student discipline, and employment on the basis of religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy outside of marriage, and sexual activity outside or marriage. Additionally, St. Isidore asserts a right to discriminate against students based on disability and has failed to demonstrate that it will adequately serve students with disabilities.<\/p>\n<p>St. Isidore is sponsored and controlled by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa. Though these dioceses already operate dozens of private Catholic schools, they now seek to establish St. Isidore as a public charter school to discriminate and evangelize with the authority of the state using public tax dollars. This violates numerous provisions of the Oklahoma Constitution, the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act, and the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board\u2019s own regulations, all of which require public schools to be open to all students and prohibit the state from sponsoring religious schooling. Throughout St. Isidore&#8217;s application process, Americans United provided\u00a0detailed legal analysis via letters, memos, and in-person testimony explaining why the board should reject the application.<\/p>\n<p>In approving St. Isidore, the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board abrogated its duty to uphold Oklahoma\u2019s constitution, laws, and regulations. That\u2019s why, on July 31, 2023, Americans United and our partners filed a lawsuit in Oklahoma State District Court on behalf of the Oklahoma Parent Legislative Advocacy Committee (OKPLAC) and nine parents, faith leaders, and public-school advocates who care deeply about the separation of church and state. We requested that the court prohibit the Board from sponsoring or contracting with St. Isidore and prohibit the State from giving any funding to St. Isidore.<\/p>\n<p>On September 20, 2023, the defendants filed three separate motions to dismiss the case. On October 23, 2023, we filed a consolidated opposition to those motions.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, on October 9, 2023, the Board voted to approve a contract with St. Isidore. On January 31, 2024, we filed an amended and supplemental petition to add allegations related to the contract and to add new defendants, the State Board of Education and its members. In addition, the amended and supplemental petition adds an allegation that the defendants are in violation of a state statute that prohibits segregation of children in public schools on the basis of creed, among other characteristics.<\/p>\n<p>As a result of the filing of the amended and supplemental petition, the defendants withdrew their original motions to dismiss and were granted the opportunity to file new motions. The defendants filed new motions to dismiss on March 25, 2024. We filed a consolidated opposition to those motions on April 26. On June 5, AU Associate Legal Director Alex Luchenitser and Litigation Fellow Sarah Taitz presented oral arguments against the defendants\u2019 motions to dismiss. The court rejected almost all of the defendants\u2019 grounds for dismissal and ruled at the hearing that the plaintiffs\u2019 case can proceed.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, we filed a motion for a temporary injunction on May 31, 2024, asking the court to prevent taxpayer dollars from beginning to flow to St. Isidore.<\/p>\n<p>On June 25, 2024, the Oklahoma Supreme Court barred the state from creating and funding St. Isidore as a public charter school. The decision came in <em>Drummond v. Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board,<\/em> a separate lawsuit brought by the Oklahoma Attorney General. (A group of the <em>OKPLAC<\/em> plaintiffs had filed an amicus brief in the Attorney General\u2019s case on Dec. 27, 2023.)<\/p>\n<p>Following the Oklahoma Supreme Court decision in the <em>Drummond<\/em> case, the <em>OKPLAC<\/em> plaintiffs and defendants reached court-approved agreements to put a hold on the <em>OKPLAC<\/em> case until September 1, 2025, while developments in the <em>Drummond<\/em> case are pending. St. Isidore agreed not to accept charter-school funding from the state or open to students as a charter school during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years as part of these agreements.<\/p>\n<p>On January 24, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the <em>Drummond<\/em> case after St. Isidore and the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board filed petitions. Oral argument is scheduled for April 30.<\/p>\n<p>On April 7, 2025, Americans United and our partners filed an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court on behalf of the OKPLAC plaintiffs. In our amicus brief, we argue that Oklahoma virtual charter schools are governmental entities and state actors, and therefore they must comply with the Constitution. We argue that a religious public school would be an oxymoron and a blatant violation of the Establishment Clause.<\/p>\n<p>On May 22, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court split 4-4, with one justice recused, meaning that the Oklahoma Supreme Court\u2019s decision was affirmed. Thus, the state remains barred from creating and funding St. Isidore as a public charter school. On July 14, 2025, declaring victory, we dismissed the<em> OKPLAC<\/em> lawsuit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider  elementor-element elementor-element-4f8289a e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" id=\"e-n-tab-content-1535509372\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-tab-title-1535509372\" data-tab-index=\"2\" style=\"--n-tabs-title-order: 2;\" data-id=\"4f8289a\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-7c002c1 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7c002c1\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-130b888 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"130b888\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Case Documents<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4098f25 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4098f25\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1653bc8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"1653bc8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div>\r\n  <ul class=\"case-documents\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/AU-Letter-to-Oklahoma-Statewide-Virtual-Charter-School-Board-1.31.23.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> 1.31.23 Letter refuting the former AG&#039;s opinion<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/AU-Legal-Memorandum-Oklahoma-religious-charter-schools-1.31.23.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> 1.31.23 Analysis refuting the former AG&#039;s opinion<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/AU-Letter-Oklahoma-Virtual-Charter-School-Board-St.-Isidore-application-2.10.23.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> 2.10.23 Letter regarding St. Isidore&#039;s original application<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/AU-Testimony-Oklahoma-Virtual-Charter-School-Board-2.14.23.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> 2.14.23 Testimony from AU Senior Litigation Counsel Kenneth Upton<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/AU-letter-to-Oklahoma-Virtual-Charter-School-Board-3.17.23.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> 3.17.23 Letter regarding St. Isidore&#039;s Feb. 14 presentation<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/AU-Letter-on-Revised-Application-to-Oklahoma-Virtual-Charter-School-Board-6.2.23.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> 6.2.23 Letter regarding St. Isidore&#039;s revised application<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/10.23.2023-Plaintiffs-consolidated-opposition-to-defendants-motions-to-dismiss-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> 10.23.23 Plaintiffs\u2019 consolidated opposition to defendants\u2019 motions to dismiss<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/11.14.23-Motion-to-intervene-in-lawsuit-filed-by-Attorney-General-in-Oklahoma-Supreme-Court.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> 11.14.23 Motion to intervene in lawsuit filed by Attorney General in Oklahoma Supreme Court<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Taxpayers-Amicus-Brief-file-stamped.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> 12.27.23 Oklahoma Supreme Court amicus brief in support of Attorney General\u2019s lawsuit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1.31.24-Plaintiffs-amended-and-supplemental-petition.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> 1.31.24 Plaintiffs\u2019 amended and supplemental petition<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Plaintiffs-consolidated-opposition-to-defendants-motions-to-dismiss-amended-and-supplemental-petition.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> 4.26.24 Plaintiffs&#039; consolidated opposition to defendants&#039; motions to dismiss amended and supplemental petition<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/OKPLAC-v.-Statewide-Virtual-Charter-School-Board-Motion-for-Temporary-Injunction-5.31.24.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> 5.31.24 Plaintiffs&#039; motion for a temporary injunction<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Drummond-v.-OSVCSB-OK-Supreme-Court-Opinion-6.25.24.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span>  6.25.24 Oklahoma Supreme Court opinion in Drummond v. OSVSB<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Brief-of-Oklahoma-Parent-Legislative-Advocacy-Coalition-et-al.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> 4.7.25 Amicus brief filed on behalf of Oklahoma Parent Legislative Advocacy Coalition in Drummond v. OSVSB<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Supreme-Court-Decision.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i><\/span> Supreme Court Decision<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-b7f9de9 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b7f9de9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-616aa1e elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"616aa1e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"_videos\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28f199f elementor-position-left elementor-view-default elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"28f199f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<span  class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-video\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVIDEOS\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-abd2865 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"abd2865\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ebede26 elementor-skin-coverflow elementor-pagination-type-bullets elementor-pagination-position-outside elementor-widget elementor-widget-media-carousel\" data-id=\"ebede26\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;skin&quot;:&quot;coverflow&quot;,&quot;slides_per_view&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:1500,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:7000,&quot;pagination&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;space_between&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;space_between_laptop&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;space_between_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;space_between_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"media-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-main-swiper swiper\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"carousel\" aria-label=\"Slides\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-15-165042-e1744750560828.png\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"ebede26\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Screenshot 2025-04-15 165042\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzkyODEsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC93d3cuYXUub3JnXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI1XC8wNFwvU2NyZWVuc2hvdC0yMDI1LTA0LTE1LTE2NTA0Mi1lMTc0NDc1MDU2MDgyOC53ZWJwIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiZWJlZGUyNiJ9\" data-elementor-lightbox-video=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/57xBYZdLs1Y?feature=oembed&amp;autoplay=1&amp;rel=0&amp;controls=0\">\t\t<div class=\"elementor-carousel-image\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Screenshot 2025-04-15 165042\" style=\"background-image: url(&#039;https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-15-165042-e1744750560828.webp&#039;)\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed-play\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-play\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Play<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-15-165223-e1744750594778.png\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"ebede26\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Screenshot 2025-04-15 165223\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzkyODIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC93d3cuYXUub3JnXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI1XC8wNFwvU2NyZWVuc2hvdC0yMDI1LTA0LTE1LTE2NTIyMy1lMTc0NDc1MDU5NDc3OC53ZWJwIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiZWJlZGUyNiJ9\" data-elementor-lightbox-video=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9yYGREQFN10?feature=oembed&amp;autoplay=1&amp;rel=0&amp;controls=0\">\t\t<div class=\"elementor-carousel-image\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"A female and male newscaster discuss supreme court case on KFOR Oklahoma News 4\" style=\"background-image: url(&#039;https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-15-165223-e1744750594778.webp&#039;)\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed-play\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-play\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Play<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-15-165419-e1744750523534.png\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"ebede26\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Screenshot 2025-04-15 165419\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MzkyODMsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC93d3cuYXUub3JnXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI1XC8wNFwvU2NyZWVuc2hvdC0yMDI1LTA0LTE1LTE2NTQxOS1lMTc0NDc1MDUyMzUzNC53ZWJwIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiZWJlZGUyNiJ9\" data-elementor-lightbox-video=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iOsoPuZUrpI?feature=oembed&amp;autoplay=1&amp;rel=0&amp;controls=0\">\t\t<div class=\"elementor-carousel-image\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Newscasters from Fox News 25 discuss supreme court ruling\" style=\"background-image: url(&#039;https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-15-165419-e1744750523534.webp&#039;)\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed-play\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-play\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Play<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/BU1Y19MqqDs?feature=shared\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\t\t<div class=\"elementor-carousel-image\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Screenshot 2025-04-15 165800\" style=\"background-image: url(&#039;https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-15-165800-e1744750721656.webp&#039;)\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-00d8c21 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"00d8c21\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9582b8a elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"9582b8a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"_plaintiffs\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9cbbd41 elementor-position-left elementor-view-default elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"9cbbd41\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<span  class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-users\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPlaintiffs\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-aa7b1eb e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"aa7b1eb\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cfc8983 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"cfc8983\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta\" href=\"\/about-au\/people\/rev-dr-lori-walke\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Rev.-Lori-Walke.jpg);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Revered Lori Walke\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRev. Dr. Lori Walke\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSenior Minister of Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ.\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMEET REV. WALKE\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6381020 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"6381020\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta\" href=\"\/about-au\/people\/erika-wright\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Erika-Wright.jpg);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Erika Wright\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tErika Wright\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFounder and leader of the Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMEET ERIKA WRIGHT\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d4fa18 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"6d4fa18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta\" href=\"\/about-au\/people\/the-rev-dr-mitch-randall\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Mitch-Randall-scaled.jpg);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Mitch Randall\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRev. Dr. Mitch Randall\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCEO of Good Faith Media and citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMEET REV. RANDALL\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-bac84de e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"bac84de\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-99a04a1 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"99a04a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta\" href=\"\/about-au\/people\/michele-medley\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Michi-Medley-scaled-e1744746612562.jpg);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Michi Medley\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMichele Medley\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMichele is an Oklahoma resident and mother of three children, two of whom are autistic and one of whom is LGBTQIA+.\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMEET MICHELE\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b496912 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"b496912\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta\" href=\"\/about-au\/people\/krystal-bonsall\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Krystal-Bonsall-e1744746585711.jpg);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Krystal Bonsall\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tKrystal Bonsall\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tKrystal is a parent of a public school student who has disabilities that require speech and occupational therapy and paraprofessional support in class.\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMEET KRYSTAL\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ab45c0 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"2ab45c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta\" href=\"\/about-au\/people\/melissa-abdo\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Melissa-Abdo-e1744746774443.webp);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Melissa Abdo\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMelissa Abdo\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMelissa is a Catholic resident of Tulsa County and a current member Jenks Public Schools Board\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMEET Melissa\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-bf7487f e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"bf7487f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64e4af7 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"64e4af7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta\" href=\"\/about-au\/people\/dr-bruce-prescott\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bruce-Prescott.jpg);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Bruce Prescott\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDr. Bruce Prescott\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBruce is a retired educator and retired Baptist minister who served as executive director of Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists.\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMEET BRUCE\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce85522 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"ce85522\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta\" href=\"\/about-au\/people\/brenda-lene\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Brenda-Lene.jpg);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Brenda Lene\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBrenda Len\u00e9\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBrenda is the founder and operator of the Facebook group \u201cOklahoma Education Needs\/Donations\u201d and parent of a child in public school\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMEET BRENDA\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-46f0375 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"46f0375\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73db224 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"73db224\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"_press\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed5bf1b elementor-position-left elementor-view-default elementor-mobile-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"ed5bf1b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<span  class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-newspaper\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPress Statements\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-ae8ab1d e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ae8ab1d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-373279e e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"373279e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f2421c elementor-widget elementor-widget-n-accordion\" data-id=\"7f2421c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;default_state&quot;:&quot;all_collapsed&quot;,&quot;max_items_expended&quot;:&quot;multiple&quot;,&quot;n_accordion_animation_duration&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;ms&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:400,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"nested-accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-accordion\" aria-label=\"Accordion. Open links with Enter or Space, close with Escape, and navigate with Arrow Keys\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1330\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"1\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1330\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Oklahoma faith leaders, education advocates, and parents urge U.S. Supreme Court to block nation\u2019s first religious public charter school <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-1ba776a e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1330\" data-id=\"1ba776a\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e7912f0 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e7912f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>April 2025<\/strong> \u2013 A group of Oklahoma faith leaders, public education advocates, and public-school parents \u2013 who are among the plaintiffs in a lawsuit to stop Oklahoma\u2019s creation of the nation\u2019s first religious public charter school \u2013 today urged the U.S. Supreme Court to protect religious freedom and public education by affirming that charter schools are public schools that must be secular and open to all students.<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/press\/religious-public-charter-school-scotus\/\">Read statement here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1331\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"2\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1331\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Statement on Supreme Court agreeing to hear Oklahoma case involving nation\u2019s first religious public charter school <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-e63e623 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1331\" data-id=\"e63e623\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-810f790 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1331\" data-id=\"810f790\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b47795a black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b47795a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>January, 2025<\/strong> \u2013 Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union, Education Law Center, and Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following statement concerning the petitions for certiorari granted today by the U.S. Supreme Court in Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board v. Drummond and St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond. The organizations represent faith leaders, public school parents, and public education advocates in a separate lawsuit to stop Oklahoma from sponsoring and funding St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/press\/charter-school-supreme-court-isidore\/\">Read the statement here.<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1332\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"3\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1332\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Statement on Oklahoma Supreme Court decision blocking nation\u2019s first religious public charter school <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-5a13c0d e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1332\" data-id=\"5a13c0d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b58cc6b black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b58cc6b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>June 2024<\/strong>\u2013 Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union, Education Law Center, and Freedom From Religion Foundation applaud the decision of the Oklahoma Supreme Court today to bar the nation\u2019s first religious charter school. The organizations, which represent faith leaders, public school parents, and public education advocates in a separate lawsuit to stop Oklahoma from sponsoring and funding St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, issued the following joint statement.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/press\/statement-on-oklahoma-supreme-court-decision-blocking-nations-first-religious-public-charter-school\/\"><strong>Read the statement here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1333\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"4\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1333\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Court victory in case challenging nation\u2019s first religious public charter school in Oklahomam <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-3b3719a e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1333\" data-id=\"3b3719a\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e63824d black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e63824d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>June 2024<\/strong> &#8211; A lawsuit seeking to block Oklahoma from sponsoring and funding the nation\u2019s first religious public charter school can move forward, an Oklahoma judge\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.oscn.net\/dockets\/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=oklahoma&amp;number=CV-2023-1857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ruled today<\/a>. Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union, Education Law Center, and Freedom From Religion Foundation, who represent the plaintiffs in the case, applauded today\u2019s decision.<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/press\/court-victory-in-case-challenging-nations-first-religious-public-charter-school-in-oklahoma\/\">Read statement here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1334\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"5\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1334\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Oklahoma faith leaders, education advocates &amp; parents seek temporary injunction to block St. Isidore Catholic Virtual School from opening as a public charter school <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-e22af27 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1334\" data-id=\"e22af27\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-2b67705 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1334\" data-id=\"2b67705\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a78a6ed black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a78a6ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>May 2024<\/strong> \u2013 Faith leaders, public-education advocates, and public-school parents who are plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed to stop Oklahoma from sponsoring and funding the nation\u2019s first religious public charter school today\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/OKPLAC-v.-Statewide-Virtual-Charter-School-Board-Motion-for-Temporary-Injunction-5.31.24.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">asked<\/a>\u00a0the District Court of Oklahoma County to issue a temporary injunction preventing St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School from opening and receiving state funds as a public charter school.<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/press\/oklahoma-temporary-injunction-st-isidore-charter-school\/\">Read statement here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1335\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"6\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1335\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Faith Leaders, Education Advocates, and Parents Seek To Join Oklahoma Attorney General\u2019s Lawsuit Opposing Operation of a Religious Public Charter School <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-c2d44e9 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1335\" data-id=\"c2d44e9\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-233f328 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1335\" data-id=\"233f328\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-098ce7d black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"098ce7d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>November 2024<\/strong> \u2013 A group of faith leaders, public-education advocates, and public-school parents \u2013 who are among the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed on July 31, 2023, to stop Oklahoma from sponsoring and funding the nation\u2019s first religious public charter school \u2013 are\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Combined-documents-for-taxpayer-intervention-in-Gentner-v.-OK-Virtual-Charter-School-Board-11.14.23.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">seeking to join<\/a>\u00a0a similar lawsuit recently\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.oag.ok.gov\/articles\/drummond-files-lawsuit-against-state-virtual-charter-board-members-violating-religious\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">filed<\/a>\u00a0by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond.<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/press\/intervention-oklahoma-attorney-general-lawsuit-religious-public-charter-school\/\">Read the statement here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1336\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"7\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1336\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Statement on Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond\u2019s Lawsuit Regarding St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-1277567 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1336\" data-id=\"1277567\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-f5d93dd e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1336\" data-id=\"f5d93dd\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-165af9e black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"165af9e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>October 2023<\/strong> &#8211; Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union, Education Law Center and Freedom From Religion Foundation \u2013 the organizations litigating a lawsuit to stop Oklahoma from sponsoring and funding the nation\u2019s first religious public charter school \u2013 issued the following joint statement in response to the new\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Drummond-v.-Okla.-Statewide-Virtual-Charter-School-Board-10.20.23.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lawsuit<\/a>\u00a0filed today by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/press\/oklahoma-attorney-general-lawsuit-st-isidore\/\">Read the statement here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1337\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"8\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1337\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Oklahomans File Lawsuit to Stop State From Sponsoring Nation\u2019s First Religious Public Charter School <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-ec52f41 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1337\" data-id=\"ec52f41\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-96bcfed e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1337\" data-id=\"96bcfed\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d8c02a black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2d8c02a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>July 2023<\/strong> &#8211; Nine Oklahoma residents and a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting public education in Oklahoma filed a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/OKPLAC-v.-Statewide-Virtual-Charter-School-Board-Complaint-7-31-23.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lawsuit<\/a>\u00a0today in state court to stop Oklahoma from sponsoring and funding the nation\u2019s first religious public charter school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/press\/lawsuit-stop-first-religious-public-charter-school\/\">Read the statement here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1338\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"9\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1338\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Americans United preparing legal action in Oklahoma after board approves nation\u2019s first religious public charter school <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-6019e3b e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1338\" data-id=\"6019e3b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-699cbe4 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1338\" data-id=\"699cbe4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-476e3c9 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"476e3c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>June 2023<\/strong> &#8211; Americans United for Separation of Church and State\u2019s President and CEO Rachel Laser issued the following statement in response to the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board today approving the revised charter application of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School:<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/press\/legal-action-oklahoma-religious-public-charter-school\/\">Read the statement here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1339\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"10\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1339\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Americans United Applauds Oklahoma Charter School Board\u2019s Decision To Require Applicant For Nation\u2019s First Religious Public Charter School To Remedy Defects In Application <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-8fb6214 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1339\" data-id=\"8fb6214\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-a72b48d e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1339\" data-id=\"a72b48d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3506fd black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c3506fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>April 2023<\/strong> &#8211; Americans United for Separation of Church and State\u2019s President and CEO Rachel Laser issued the following statement in response to the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board\u2019s action today on the charter application of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School:<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/press\/oklahoma-reject-religious-public-charter-school-2\/\"><strong>Read the statement here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-13310\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"11\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-13310\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Americans United Thanks Oklahoma AG For Upholding The Law, Which Bars Taxpayer-Funded Charter Schools From Indoctrinating Students In Religion <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-0ebcfad e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-13310\" data-id=\"0ebcfad\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-9da46ca e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-13310\" data-id=\"9da46ca\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36e0d54 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"36e0d54\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>April 2023<\/strong> &#8211; Americans United for Separation of Church and State\u2019s President and CEO Rachel Laser issued the following statement in response to the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board\u2019s action today on the charter application of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School:<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/press\/oklahoma-reject-religious-public-charter-school-2\/\"><strong>Read the statement here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-13311\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"12\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-13311\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Americans United Urges Oklahoma Officials To Reject Application For Nation\u2019s First Religious Public Charter School <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-a916f20 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-13311\" data-id=\"a916f20\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-5ee4058 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-13311\" data-id=\"5ee4058\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a10659 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3a10659\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>February 2023<\/strong> &#8211; Americans United for Separation of Church and State is urging the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board to reject a request from the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City to create the nation\u2019s first religious public charter school, which would be a flagrant violation of Oklahomans\u2019 religious freedom. In testimony before the board today, and in two recent letters and a detailed legal memo, Americans United\u2019s legal experts explained why a former attorney general\u2019s opinion that the state should allow public charter schools to indoctrinate students in religion is wrong and violates the separation of church and state.\u00a0<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/press\/oklahoma-reject-religious-public-charter-school\/\"><strong>Read the statement here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5b7416 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d5b7416\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Are you experiencing religious indoctrination in your public school? \n\nWe can help.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f881862 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"f881862\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/report-a-violation\/\" title=\"Take Action\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">report a violation<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-b038eeb e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b038eeb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-77b672b e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"77b672b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-7561ad6 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7561ad6\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-779e6ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"779e6ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/landing-page-donate-shield-400x480-1.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-9431\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/landing-page-donate-shield-400x480-1.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/landing-page-donate-shield-400x480-1-250x300.webp 250w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/landing-page-donate-shield-400x480-1-167x200.webp 167w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-09c6561 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"09c6561\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb5b590 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fb5b590\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Help AU Challenge Violations of Church-State Separation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c6e9cc6 elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"c6e9cc6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"\/oklahoma-charter-school-lawsuit\/?form=donate&#038;sourceCode=WA2310AXXX\" title=\"Donate\" id=\"donate-home\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">DONATE TODAY<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Religious Public Charter Schools violate church-state separation Summary Charter schools are public schools. And public schools must be secular and open to all students. They are not allowed to&nbsp;discriminate against students or indoctrinate children into one religion. But that is exactly what Oklahoma\u2019s newly approved religious public charter school, St. Isidore of Seville, intends to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[260],"issue_tax":[],"class_list":["post-12028","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","tag-legalcasesearch"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12028","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12028"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12028\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12028"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12028"},{"taxonomy":"issue_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue_tax?post=12028"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}