Oklahoma’s attorney general is accusing a state board of trying to rig the legal fight over a proposed Jewish charter school – a dispute that could open the door for publicly funded religious charter schools across the United States.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Attorney-General accuses rigging of Jewish charter shcool vote | The Jerusalem Post
Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed a motion this week asking an Oklahoma County district judge to intervene after the Statewide Charter School Board rejected an application to open the Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School, a virtual statewide school that would combine secular studies with Jewish religious instruction.
Drummond alleges that the board engineered its vote so the rejection would focus only on the school’s religious character, strengthening the legal case for the school’s supporters, who are preparing a federal lawsuit challenging Oklahoma’s ban on religious charter schools.
“A state agency that deliberately hobbles its own legal position is not doing its job – it is betraying Oklahoma taxpayers. I will not allow that,” Drummond said in a statement.
He added: “The Board deliberately suppressed those findings to manufacture a cleaner path to federal court. I will not allow this Board to rig the record at taxpayers’ expense.”
Drummond asked the court to order the board to issue a new rejection letter detailing all of the reasons the proposal was deficient.
The dispute centers on the National Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School Foundation, led by former Florida Democratic Rep. Peter Deutsch. The group applied to open a statewide online charter school serving kindergarten through 12th-grade students beginning next school year.
The proposal called for a curriculum combining secular coursework with daily Jewish religious studies. If approved, it would have become the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter school.
Jewish groups in Oklahoma have opposed the proposal, saying they prefer not to be thrust into the middle of a debate over church-state separation and that there is little demand for such a school among local Jewish residents.
The charter board voted earlier this week to reject the application, citing a 2024 Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that charter schools must remain secular.
That ruling overturned a previous effort to open a Catholic charter school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court ended in a 4–4 tie after Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself, leaving the state court decision in place.
Several board members said the precedent left them no choice but to reject Ben Gamla’s application.
At the same time, the board has signaled it may support the school’s broader constitutional argument in court. The board hired the conservative Christian legal group First Liberty Institute to represent it in the expected litigation and has indicated it could back the school’s position once a lawsuit is filed.
Drummond also fought Catholic charter school proposal
Drummond, who also fought the Catholic charter school proposal, said the legal question about religious charter schools had already been settled by the state courts and insisted his objection to the board’s vote was procedural rather than religious.
Among the issues he says the board improperly left out was a discrepancy in Ben Gamla’s projected enrollment.
Deutsch initially said the online school would serve about 40 high school students, but the formal application projected enrollment of 400 students across grades K-12.
State officials also raised questions about the composition of the school’s governing board. Oklahoma law requires a charter school board to include a parent or grandparent of a student. Ben Gamla listed Brett Farley, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, as its parent representative.
Supporters of the school have said they plan to challenge Oklahoma’s prohibition on religious charter schools in federal court, arguing that excluding religious schools from charter programs violates the Constitution’s protections for religious freedom.
Early voting opens June 11
Primary Election day in Oklahoma is June 16.
Across the state voters will weigh in on the potential next governor and whether the minimum wage should be raised.
Here’s what to know to be ready.
Closed primaries across the state
In Oklahoma, closed primaries mean only voters who are registered with a major party can participate in the Primary Election.
To check your registration visit the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s website. The last day to register to vote in the primaries was may 22.
Tight governor’s race
Nine GOP candidates want to succeed Gov. Kevin Stitt, while just two Democrats are seeking the state’s highest office.
Cyndi Munson, the Democratic House leader, and Connie Johnson, a former state senator, will be on the Democratic ticket.
GOP’s crowded ticket includes Attorney General Gentner Drummond, former state public safety adviser Chip Keating, former state Sen. Mike Mazzei, former House Speaker Charles McCall, former state Senator Jake Merrick, small business owners Jennifer Domenico, Leisa Mitchell Haynes and Kenneth Sturgell, and Calup Taylor.
Domenico, 62, is from Bartlesville.
“If I am elected governor, this animosity will stop. It must stop. We live in a state that experiences tornadoes and other natural disasters. Do Oklahomans want to be at the point that we are not going to help each other if someone is in distress and has a Trump flag still flying or a Resistance flag flying after a tornado ripped through a residence? No! This is Oklahoma,” Domenico said in a Q&A with the Oklahoman.
Washington County Assessor
The race for Washington County Assessor will be decided in the primary between Republicans Steve Campbell and Chris Standridge.
Campbell, the incumbent, has served in his role for four years. Standridge is a former employee of the Assessor’s Office.
Other races, questions on the ballot
Lieutenant Gov.
- H. VICTOR FLORES (R)
- T. W. SHANNON (R)
- DARRELL WEAVER (R)
- DAVID OSTROWE (R)
- JUSTIN JJ HUMPHREY (R)
- BRIAN HILL (R)
Attorney General
- JON ECHOLS (R)
- JEFF STARLING (R)
State treasurer
- TODD RUSS (R)
- CINDY BYRD (R)
Superintendent of Public Instruction
- JENNETTIE MARSHALL (D)
- CRAIG McVAY (D)
- TONI HASENBECK (R)
- JOHN COX (R)
- ROBERT FRANKLIN (R)
- JAMES TAYLOR (R)
- ADAM PUGH (R)
- DEBRA A. HERLIHY (R)
- WILLIAM E CROZIER (R)
Comissioner of Labor
- JOHN PFEIFFER (R)
- LISA JANLOO (R)
- KEITH SWINTON (R)
- KEVIN WEST (R)
Insurance Commissioner
- CHRIS MERIDETH (R)
- GRETA SHULER (R)
- MARTY L QUINN (R)
- BOB SULLIVAN (R)
Corporation Commissioner
- DONALD ANTHONY CLYTUS (D)
- RHONDA EASTMAN (D)
- HAROLD D. SPRADLING (D)
- BRAD BOLES (R)
- JUSTIN HORNBACK (R)
U.S. Senator
- TROY W. GREEN (D)
- ERVIN STONE YEN (D)
- R.O. JOE CASSITY JR. (D)
- N’KIYLA JASMINE THOMAS (D)
- JIM PRIEST (D)
- NICK HANKINS (R)
- GARY TY ENGLAND (R)
- KEVIN HERN (R)
- SEAN BUCKNER (R)
- BRIAN RAGAIN (R)
U.S. House District 2
- JOSH BRECHEEN (R)
- WILL WEBB (R)
- ERIK TERWEY (D)
- BRANDON WADE (D)
State House District 10
- JAKE BAIR (R)
- JUDD STROM (R)
- CUEN FUNDERBURKE (R)
State House District 11
- JOHN B. KANE (R)
- WENDI STEARMAN (R)
State Questions
- NO. 832, INITIATIVE PETITION NO. 446
Bartlesville voting locations
Early voting begins Thursday, June 11.
Early voting can be done at the Washington County Election Board located at 401 Johnstone Ave., Ste. 4 during the following days and times.
- 8 a.m. top 6 p.m. on June 11
- 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 12
- 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 13
Oklahoma
Parsa Fallah, Kashie Natt Seeking Eligibility Waivers to Play at Oklahoma State Next Season
STILLWATER — There’s a chance that Parsa Fallah dons the orange and black again next season.
Oklahoma State coach Steve Lutz told reporters Tuesday that Fallah has filed for an eligibility waiver that would see him gain a sixth season.
“Parsa is petitioning the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility because of some circumstances he had when he first came over to the United States,” Lutz said. “So, yes, I am holding the scholarship for him at this point.”
Fallah was a fan favorite in what was initially thought to be his lone season at Oklahoma State and became even more of a fan favorite late in the year when he tore his ACL at the end of OSU’s win against West Virginia just to hobble into the postgame news conference and pour his heart out for the university.
Fallah’s eligibility will be interesting.
He came to the United States from Iran, but it wasn’t as simple as hopping on a plane and heading over. He had to go to a U.S. embassy in Africa — a process he thought would take two days, but he ended up being in Africa for sixth months with $400.
By the time he got to Southern Utah, his first college program, Fallah redshirted. He went on to play 58 games with Southern Utah across the next two seasons, averaging 7.7 points and 3.8 boards a contest before transferring to Oregon State. In one year with the Beavers, Fallah averaged 12.8 points and four boards a contest before averaging 14.7 and six last season with the Cowboys.
“He’s around,” Lutz said. “He comes to the team meetings and practices, and he works out with (strength coach) Gavin (Roberts), and Kevin (Blaske), the trainer, and our physical therapist. He’s a lot thicker, but that’s because he’s not running. But he told me the other day, if I’m not mistaken, he should be running here very soon, or jogging pretty soon.
“So, he’s doing great. Positive attitude, excited about the future — whether it be with us in basketball or he’s had some job opportunities presented to him here in Stillwater and beyond. So, he’s living the dream.”
It’s hard to tell anymore in terms of what the NCAA is thinking when it comes to waivers. Then on top of that, it’s tough to determine just how much power the NCAA actually has to enforce a decision. Just Monday, a Texas judge ruled that Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is eligible despite his gambling situation.
Fallah’s isn’t the only waiver the Cowboys are waiting on, either.
Reigning Conference-USA Defensive Player of the Year Kashie Natt signed with the Cowboys this offseason, but he’s in need of some extra eligibility.
“I don’t have any updates,” Lutz said of Natt’s situation. “There’s been waivers filed with the NCAA, and then obviously depending on what they say, you obviously have to take it to the courts.”
Natt’s path to that extra year seems a little more straight forward. Last season was Natt’s first at the Division-I level, where he averaged 10.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and a pair of steals a game at Sam Houston.
Natt started his college career at Southern University-Shreveport — a junior college — before spending two seasons at LSU-Alexandria — an NAIA school. He was a two-time All-American at LSU-Alexandria and was the 2025 NAIA National Player of the Year.
He’s also apparently made quite the impact in a short period of time this summer in Stillwater.
“He’s an unbelievable human being,” Lutz said. “He’s constantly bringing energy. He’s constantly bringing energy. Today, we started off practice … you get a towel, and you have hold the towel over your head. And then you have to do step slides, defensive step slides, like old school. I’ve never really said you have to say ‘ball’ or you have to say whatever, and Kashie decided, ‘Hey, coach, we’re gonna call ball, ball, ball, ball.’ Well, it’s contagious, and he’s just got that personality. So, it’s been enjoyable.”
The Oklahoma State Cowboys have an 18-game Big 12 losing streak and a two-year streak with no bowl game. The two things go hand in hand.
The Cowboys must win at least six games to get to a bowl game. That means winning, at minimum, three conference games, assuming OSU wins all three non-conference games. Lose a non-league game and the Cowboys must win four.
Oklahoma State is 4-20 since reaching the Big 12 Championship game, losing to Texas and then going to the Fiesta Bowl. If the Cowboys want to turn things around under first-year head coach Eric Morris, getting to a bowl game is a good first step.
This bowl projection should make the Cowboys feel good.
Oklahoma State’s Optimistic Bowl Projection
Athlon Sports’ 2026 football annual is on newsstands and in its Big 12 preview the publication picked the Cowboys to finish in eighth place. The publication didn’t provide a projected record. But the teams in the eighth-place range in the Big 12 last year all won at least six games, meaning they went to a bowl game.
So that meant Athlon’s is projecting the Cowboys are good enough to go bowling this year, which means they’re going to end their Big 12 losing streak and get out of the conference’s cellar. Good news. But where?
The publication has the Cowboys meeting former Big 8 rival Missouri in the Texas Bowl in Houston. If that’s the case it would be Oklahoma State’s fourth trip to a bowl game in Houston, including the 1983 Bluebonnet Bowl at the Astrodome. It would also say something about where OSU stands in the conference.
Recently, the full bowl game schedule was released and the Big 12’s bowl game pecking order was also announced. Of the league’s non-playoff bowl tie-ins, the Texas Bowl is No. 3 on the list behind the Alamo Bowl and Pop Tarts Bowl. These tie-ins would apply to Big 12 teams after the College Football Playoff participants are decided.
The Cowboys would go third in this scenario. BYU, the team picked second, would go to the Alamo Bowl, while Houston, which is projected to finish third, would go to the Pop Tarts Bowl.
Why take OSU if you’re the Texas Bowl? That bowl committee may be banking on the infusion of offense making the Cowboys an exciting team to watch this season, which would be enticing to any bowl game committee. Morris runs the Air Raid offense and imported the key players from his former job, North Texas, where they went 12-2. That includes quarterback Drew Mestemaker.
But by taking OSU, that committee would be taking the Cowboys over Utah, Kansas, Arizona and Arizona State, all teams projected to finish better than Oklahoma State. The Texas Bowl would be banking that the Cowboys would be a better draw.
For context, Houston played in the Texas Bowl last season, won the game and wrapped up a 10-win season, if Cowboys fans need another reason to feel optimistic.
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