Washington, D.C. — Today, Will Marshall, President of the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), issued the following statement in response to yesterday’s Supreme Court decision about religious charter schools:
“Yesterday’s Supreme Court deadlock is a welcome outcome that upholds the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s decision: Charter schools cannot be religious institutions. This result preserves the integrity of the public school choice movement and reaffirms a foundational American principle — that the government should not fund religious proselytizing. Upholding this principle has helped the United States avoid the sectarian strife that has marred the politics of many other nations.
“Charter schools are showing the way forward because they offer a powerful formula: autonomy for schools, accountability for results, and parental choice among diverse educational models tailored to the unique learning styles of children. Yesterday’s decision ensures that this innovative public school model remains focused on serving all students, not advancing religious doctrine.”