Jewish school founder seeks to launch faith-based charter in Oklahoma

Oklahoma may soon be the battleground for another debate on whether religious schools should receive public funds.

Peter Deutsch, a former U.S. representative and founder of the Ben Gamla Charter School Foundation, filed a letter of intent with Oklahoma’s Statewide Charter School Board (OSCSB) to open a religious charter school.

“Ben Gamla envisions Oklahoma students gaining a rigorous, values-based education that integrates general academic excellence with Jewish religious learning and ethical development,” Deutsch wrote in the letter.

The school, which hopes to open in 2026-27, would blend “Oklahoma’s state-approved academic standards alongside Jewish religious studies, enabling students to achieve college readiness while developing deep Jewish knowledge, faith, and values within a supportive learning community.” 

The six Ben Gamla charters currently operating in Florida are dual language English-Hebrew schools, but don’t explicitly teach Jewish religious values. 

While Deutsch served in the U.S. House as a Democrat, he has since called school choice “a civil rights issue in this generation” and endorsed President Trump for his pro-Israel policies. 

If the OSCSB approves a religious Ben Gamla charter, it will follow in the footsteps of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, which tried to launch a religious virtual charter in 2023. 

The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved St. Isidore, but Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond sued the school for allegedly violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

St. Isidore argued having a charter contract did not make the school a government actor and therefore was not an instance of the government establishing religion – and that, to the contrary, excluding religious groups from publicly available programs could be discrimination. 

The case eventually went to the U.S. Supreme Court where a 4-4 ruling left the prior ruling against St. Isidore in place, after the recusal of Justice Amy Coney Barrett. 

Deutsch openly supported St. Isidore, saying it could be a “paradigm shift for American Jews and the opportunity for Jewish education in America.” 

OSCSB Chair Brian Shellem promised Nov. 10 the board would be unbiased in its consideration of a Ben Gamla religious charter school. 

“Our contract is to educate children,” Shellem said. “You look for the best academic outcomes for children in the state of Oklahoma.” 

However, a spokesperson for AG Drummond said his office would oppose efforts to start a religious charter school. 

“This matter has already been resolved after the state Supreme Court’s ruling to prevent taxpayer funded religious charter schools was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year,” the spokesperson said. “Our office will oppose any attempts to undermine the rule of law.” 

Once Ben Gamla submits a formal application, the OSCSB will have no more than 90 days to accept or reject it.