This Week: Jewish charter school fights for equal access in Oklahoma Ben Gamla asks federal court to end state exclusion of religious schools from charter program

WASHINGTON – Becket attorneys will ask a federal court this week to stop Oklahoma from excluding the National Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School Foundation, Inc. from the state’s charter school program because of its religious character. In National Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School Foundation, Inc. v. Drummond, Ben Gamla is challenging Oklahoma’s policy of denying charter school opportunities to religious applicants while allowing a wide range of other privately operated charter schools to participate.  

Two decades ago, Peter Deutsch founded the Ben Gamla Charter School Foundation in Florida. Ben Gamla Florida has provided high-quality education to students of all faiths. With four campuses in Florida, they offer an education focused on Hebrew language, culture, and history. In 2025, Peter Deutsch incorporated the National Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School Foundation in Oklahoma andapplied for charter authorization with the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board to open Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School as an online option for families statewide. 

The Oklahoma Charter School Board praised Ben Gamla’s model but rejected its application after concluding that St. Isidore v. Drummond required Oklahoma to shut faith-based schools out of the charter program. Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who led the case against St. Isidore, was later named “Secularist of the Week” by the Freedom From Religion Foundation for his opposition to Ben Gamla and other religious schools. Ben Gamla is now asking the court to stop Oklahoma from enforcing that religious exclusion while the case continues.

What: 
Oral argument on Ben Gamla’s request for a preliminary injunction in
National Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School Foundation, Inc. v. Drummond  

 Arguing before the court: 
Daniel Chen, counsel at Becket and an attorney for Ben Gamla 

When: 
August 5, 2026, at approximately 9 a.m. CT

Where: 
William J. Holloway, Jr. United States Courthouse
Courtroom 302
200 N.W. Fourth Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73102 

A ruling is expected in the coming weeks.  

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Ryan Colby at [email protected] or 202-349-7219.