On April 8, 2025, the National Education Association (NEA) issued a press release urging the Supreme Court to reject what it calls “attempts to force states to fund religious charter schools.” This statement accompanied an amicus brief filed in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond and St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond, two cases that may determine whether states are constitutionally required to allow religious charter schools to receive public funds.
NEA President Becky Pringle denounced the idea, claiming that “allowing taxpayer dollars to fund religious charter schools would put both public education and religious freedom at risk, opening the door to more privatization that undermines our public education system.” She further asserted that this is “a direct attack on public education, threatening the very foundation of our democracy”.
Yet it’s worth asking: Is supporting religious charter schools really an attack on democracy? Or is it an affirmation of one of democracy’s most essential principles—freedom of belief and parental authority over children’s education?
Education Is a Parental Right—And a Responsibility
The debate over public funding for religious charter schools centers on the rights of parents, who are not only taxpayers but the primary decision-makers for their children’s education and moral development. In a free society, parents bear the duty to raise their children according to their values—including their religious beliefs. If public education is a guaranteed benefit for all children, then surely it should not become a tool to exclude religious expression.
Parents who seek a religious education for their children should not be penalized simply because their school of choice integrates faith with academics. Whether secular or religious, the goal is the same: to educate children well. Taxpayer dollars follow students because every child is entitled to a quality education. If that education takes place in a religious setting that parents freely choose, what legitimate basis is there for discrimination?
The Myth of Drained Public Funds
The NEA contends that religious charter schools will “diminish funding for classroom resources, educator salaries, and other supports our students need,” according to Cari Elledge, president of the Oklahoma Education Association. But this argument doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
If a student transfers from a traditional public school to a religious charter school, then the cost of educating that student at the original school disappears. This isn’t a diversion of funds—it’s a redirection, aligned with a parent’s choice. The resources follow the student, as they should. Secular institutions aren’t harmed by this; they serve fewer students and thus require fewer resources.
A simple thought experiment reveals the flaw in the NEA’s logic. Suppose every parent in a state preferred a religious school for their children. Would the state not be obligated to fund that education in accordance with the public school mandate? Of course it would. Parental rights do not lose force merely because the preferences of some are in the minority. Religious parents deserve the same support and respect as any others.
A Broader Vision for Public Education
The NEA asserts that public schools “must welcome all students, be accountable to the public, and remain nonsectarian.” But why must “nonsectarian” mean “anti-religious”? Charter schools are by design different in method and philosophy. So long as they meet state academic standards and serve students equitably, why should they be banned from expressing religious perspectives?
The Court’s upcoming decision could profoundly shape how educational freedom is understood in the United States. It has the opportunity to affirm that the First Amendment’s guarantee of free exercise extends to how families educate their children, not just where they worship.
We must not allow a rigid interpretation of “public” to become a weapon against religious expression. Public funds should serve the public—including the millions of families who value faith-based education.
A Call for Educational Equality
Religious Freedom Under Fire urges the Supreme Court to stand with families—of all beliefs—by protecting the right to use taxpayer funds for education consistent with religious convictions. A parent’s right to guide their child’s education is foundational to freedom itself.
Diversity in education doesn’t threaten democracy. It strengthens it.
Steve Bowcut is an award-winning journalist. He is an editor and writer for Religious Freedom Under Fire as well as other security and non-security online publications. Follow and connect with Steve on Twitter, Substack, and Facebook.
