Photo: Richard Sharrocks / Moment / Getty Images
The U.S. Supreme Court reached a 4-4 deadlock on Thursday (May 22), leaving a lower court's decision in place that blocked the establishment of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School in Oklahoma. This case, initiated by two Catholic dioceses, sought to create the first taxpayer-funded religious charter school in the United States.
The lower court had ruled that the proposed school would violate the First Amendment's establishment clause, which restricts government involvement in religion. The deadlock in the Supreme Court means that the lower court's ruling stands, preventing the establishment of the school.
The case has been closely watched as it could have set a precedent for the funding of religious charter schools with public money. The decision highlights ongoing debates about the separation of church and state and the role of religious institutions in publicly funded education.
As the Supreme Court did not reach a majority decision, the issue may resurface in future cases as other religious organizations consider similar initiatives.