SCOTUS Decision Protects the Integrity of Public Education
Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision to uphold the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s block of a religious charter school is a win for students, families, and the future of public education.
At Denver Families for Public Schools, we believe all students—no matter their background—deserve access to high-quality, inclusive public schools. This decision reaffirms a fundamental principle: public schools must remain non-religious, nondiscriminatory, and accountable to the communities they serve.
“This ruling protects something fundamental: public schools exist to serve all of us, regardless of our beliefs, backgrounds, or identities,” said Clarence Burton Jr., CEO of Denver Families for Public Schools. “We’ll keep fighting to make sure public schools live up to that promise.”
Here in Denver, public charter schools are:
- Free and open to all students
- Not affiliated with religious organizations
- Publicly accountable and bound by the same civil rights protections as other public schools
A ruling in favor of the religious charter school in this case would have weakened these standards, undermined civil rights protections, and blurred the line between church and state.
We’re encouraged that the Court upheld the constitutional principle that public schools must serve all students equally—and protect the definition of public education itself.
