Oklahoma board rejects proposal for first religious charter school

The Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board has declined to approve the Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School, a proposed virtual institution that would have become the state's first religious charter school. Although the board voted 4 to 3 in favor of the application, the proposal failed to reach the five-vote threshold required for approval. Organizers have indicated they intend to appeal the decision, and the possibility of a future vote remains.

This rejection follows a long-standing legal dispute regarding the school's application, which was initially denied in February 2026. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who had previously challenged the board's handling of the application, recently dismissed his court action without prejudice. Drummond argued that the school lacked community support and a viable enrollment strategy, asserting that the board should have focused on these operational flaws rather than the school's religious nature. Conversely, school board member Brett Farley expressed disappointment in the outcome, suggesting that the absence of one board member prevented the proposal from passing.