America's First Religious Charter School Approved in Oklahoma

CLICK HERE to listen to Radio Oklahoma's Dale Forbis provide details on St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.

Using taxpayer dollars to fund a virtual private school backed by the Catholic Church has passed its first hurdle. The state governing board gave its approval vote Monday. Board chair Robert Franklin, who voted against it, calls it a monumental vote.

Franklin asked the newest member of the board, who was appointed in the last week by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House to abstain from the vote, but instead, he cast the deciding vote. Otherwise, the count would have been two to two.

“It would have failed,” Franklin said.

Franklin acknowledged the elephant in the room, which he said is politics.

“Without question, there are political entities that have promoted this in a really big way,” Franklin said.

Opponents say funding St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School violates the state and U.S. constitutions.