A quiet revolution in education may soon become reality—and it traces directly back to President Donald Trump’s reshaping of the U.S. Supreme Court. On the docket this year: a case that could clear the path for publicly funded religious charter schools, potentially breaking the government’s long monopoly on secular education. The case, brought by Oklahoma officials on behalf of the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, pits the state against a coalition of activist groups and Biden-aligned bureaucrats who argue that allowing a religious school to receive public charter funding violates the Constitution.
But for conservatives and religious freedom advocates, the challenge represents a critical opportunity—a direct result of Trump’s three appointments to the nation’s highest court. Legal scholars note that under previous court majorities, the case likely wouldn’t have even been considered. Now, with a 6–3 constitutionalist majority, the Court is signaling a willingness to re-examine outdated legal interpretations that have long barred faith-based institutions from receiving equal treatment in the public sphere.
St. Isidore is a fully online Catholic charter school that seeks to teach students from a values-based perspective while still meeting all academic standards required of Oklahoma charter schools. Its application was approved in 2023 by the state’s virtual charter board under Republican Governor Kevin Stitt, but almost immediately, lawsuits were filed to stop it. Opponents, backed by progressive legal groups, argue that allowing a religious institution to access public education funds creates a so-called “establishment of religion.” However, under recent Supreme Court precedent—particularly the landmark Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020)—the Court ruled that states cannot discriminate against religious schools simply for being religious.
Trump-appointed Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett were all part of that majority, and their influence is again expected to play a decisive role in this new case. Legal observers believe the Court could use this opportunity to affirm that religious schools have equal rights to participate in charter programs—especially when enrollment is voluntary and curriculum standards are met.
Conservative lawmakers are already hailing the case as a possible turning point. “For decades, our education system has excluded faith from the classroom under the false guise of neutrality,” said Rep. Mark Green (R-TN). “This case could finally restore parental choice and bring fairness back into the system.”
The Biden administration, under pressure from secularist groups, quietly opposed the effort, arguing in favor of maintaining strict boundaries between public funds and religious institutions. But grassroots support for religious charter schools continues to rise—particularly among minority families, many of whom feel underserved by failing public systems and eager for options rooted in moral clarity.
President Trump has long championed school choice and religious freedom as foundational rights. His judicial legacy is now on the verge of delivering one of its most meaningful cultural victories: restoring faith as a legitimate pillar in American education—and empowering families to choose schools that reflect their values.