Jewish charter school takes center stage at Oklahoma school board meeting Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School seeks to offer a new, high-quality educational option to Oklahomans

WASHINGTON – The Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board met today to consider whether Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School may proceed with its application to open a charter school in Oklahoma. The Jewish charter school would offer Oklahoma families a rigorous, values-based education that integrates academic excellence with religious learning and is open to students of all faiths. But the state supreme court’s ruling in St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond prohibits faith-based schools from participating in the state’s charter school program. Last year, the United States Supreme Court voted 4-4 in St. Isidore, leaving the underlying legal questions unresolved. 

For nearly two decades, the Ben Gamla Charter School Foundation 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 December 2025, Peter Deutsch, founder of the Ben Gamla Charter School Foundation, applied for charter authorization with the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board. In a meeting today, Deutsch addressed the Charter School Board and answered their questions.   

“The Sooner State needs an educational option that combines a rigorous academic program with moral development,” said Peter Deutsch, founder of the Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School. “Ben Gamla aims to give Oklahoma families that choice, no matter their faith background.”  

In 2023, the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved the application of another faith-based school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, to join the other over 30 privately-run charter schools in the state. But soon after, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond sued the charter school board, arguing that St. Isidore should not be allowed to participate in the charter school program because it is religious. After the Oklahoma Supreme Court blocked St. Isidore from participating in the program, they took the case to the United States Supreme Court. The Court split 4-4 in St. Isidore, leaving the lower court’s ruling in place and providing no answer on the constitutional questions. 

While members of the Charter School Board today praised Ben Gamla’s model, under the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling in St. Isidore, faith-based charter schools are not allowed to participate on equal footing with other private schools. Yet the United States Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that states cannot deny publicly available funding to religious schools simply because they are religious. 

Recent polling indicates broad public support for the charter school. According to Becket’s 2024 Religious Freedom Index, 73% of Americans believe religious organizations that serve the community should be just as eligible to receive government funding as non-religious organizations that provide the same services.  

“Religious schools cannot be shut out of state programs just because they are religious,” said Eric Baxter, senior counsel at Becket and attorney for Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School. “Families deserve access to strong educational options, including those that integrate faith and learning.” 

The Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board will hold a final vote on Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School’s application on February 9, 2026.  

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